Scots edge closer to qualification
Scotland followed their win in France with more success against Ukraine
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Saturday, 13, Oct 2007 06:57
Scotland took another stride towards qualification for Euro 2008 as they built on an early Kenny Miller strike to win 3-1 against Ukraine at Hampden Park.
The result keeps the Scots at the head of group B and means it is increasingly likely that either France, Italy or both will fail to make it to next year's finals.
The hosts' breakthrough came after just six minutes as the Scots' striking duo of Miller and James McFadden combined to impressive effect.
McFadden's free-kick arced into a crowded box to find Miller's forehead at the near post and the Derby forward buried the chance with a deft header.
After ten minutes the lead was doubled as another McFadden centre bore reward. An unmarked Lee McCulloch calmly brought the ball down and stroked a curling shot past goalkeeper Olexander Shovkovskiy.
But the open nature of the game meant that Scotland's lead never appeared secure and Chelsea misfit Andriy Shevchenko showed the predatory instinct that has rarely been in evidence at Stamford Bridge to peg a goal back with a close-range finish just before half-time.
Two penalty shouts from the home side, for challenges on Alan Hutton and McFadden, were waved away before the referee declined to increase the wrath of the crowd by endorsing the visitors' appeals after Shevchenko fell in the box.
The second half was a far more cagey affair as Ukraine attempted to fashion an equaliser from a large share of the possession but, after Olexandr Gladkiy's header had flown narrowly wide, McFadden sealed the win.