Euro 2012 - Ukraine 2 Sweden 1

Last updated : 12 June 2012 By Footy Mad - Editor

Ukraine 2 Sweden 1

UKRAINE: Pyatov, Gusev, Mykhalyk, Khacheridi, Selin, Yarmolenko, Tymoschuk, Konoplianka (Devic 90), Nazarenko, Voronin (Rotan 84), Shevchenko (Milevskiy 81).
Goals: Shevchenko 55, 62.

SWEDEN: Isaksson, Lustig, Mellberg, Granqvist, Martin Olsson, Elm, Kallstrom, Larsson (Wilhelmsson 69), Ibrahimovic, Toivonen (Svensson 63), Rosenberg (Elmander 71).
Goal: Ibrahimovic 52.

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Two high-quality second-half goals from Shevchenko gave hosts Ukraine a triumphant start to Euro 2012.

Sweden opened the scoring through Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the 53rd minute, but their lead was short-lived as Shevchenko sprang into action.

The Dynamo Kiev striker found the back of the net twice in seven minutes with headers to place the tournament debutants at the summit of Group D.

England, who drew 1-1 with France earlier in the day, will have taken comfort from Sweden's unconvincing display ahead of their meeting on Friday.

There was little on show to concern Roy Hodgson's side, who will also have been encouraged by the vulnerability of the Ukrainians.

The first moment of real danger arrived in the 17th minute when Ibrahimovic floated in a superb cross that prompted the swift intervention of keeper Andriy Pyatov.

In the 23rd minute it was Sweden's turn to panic when Andriy Yarmolenko sent Shevchenko racing in on goal.

Even though he was shooting from a tight angle, Shevchenko should have done better with the chance but failed to connect cleanly with a shot that bobbled across the face of goal.

Andriy Voronin almost made contact with a long ball into the box as the Ukrainians, whose squad was struck by a bug last week, continued to press.

Sweden forced a save from Pyatov following Markus Rosenberg's turn and shot and a mazy run from Ibrahimovic ended when he was dispossessed by Oleg Gusev.

Keeper Andreas Isaksson kept out Andriy Yarmolenko as Ukraine went on the offensive, but moments later Sweden should have taken the lead.

Sebastian Larsson teed up Ibrahimovic with a wonderful cross but the unmarked AC Milan striker headed a glorious opportunity against the right post.

Ibrahimovic would not be denied in the 53rd minute, however, when he became the beneficiary of some poor defending from the hosts.

Kim Kallstrom nudged another fine cross from Larsson into the path of Ibrahimovic and the towering marksman made no mistake with the simple tap-in.

But three minutes later Ukraine were level, a fine diving header bringing Shevchenko his 47th international goal after Yarmolenko had made the initial inroads.

And in the 62nd minute Ukraine took the lead, with Shevchenko on target once more.

Gusev whipped in a corner to the near post that was met by the veteran former Chelsea striker, who took advantage of a static Ibrahimovic to nod home.

Pyatov looked far from convincing as he floundered to keep out a volley and follow-up header from Ibrahimovic.

Sweden substitute Johan Elmander should have rescued a late point but he blazed a one-on-one with the keeper over the crossbar and moments later defender Olof Mellberg, thrown forward in desperation, followed suit.

EURO 2012

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GROUP STAGES

 Friday June 8 

Poland 1 Greece 1
POLAND: Szczesny, Piszczek, Wasilewski, Perquis, Boenisch, Murawski, Polanski, Blaszczykowski, Obraniak, Rybus (Tyton 69), Lewandowski.
Goal: Lewandowski 17.
GREECE: Chalkias, Torosidis, Papastathopoulos, Avraam Papadopoulos (Kyriakos Papadopoulos 36), Holebas, Maniatis, Katsouranis, Karagounis, Ninis (Salpingidis 46), Gekas (Fortounis 68), Samaras.
Goal: Salpingidis 51.

Russia 4 Czech Republic 1
RUSSIA: Malafeev, Aniukov, Berezutsky, Ignashevich, Zhirkov, Shirokov, Denisov, Zyryanov, Dzagoev (Kokorin 84), Kerzhakov (Pavlyuchenko 73), Arshavin.
Goals: Dzagoev 15, Shirokov 24, Dzagoev 79, Pavlyuchenko 82.
CZECH REP: Cech, Gebre Selassie, Hubnik, Sivok, Kadlec, Plasil, Jiracek (Petrzela 75), Pilar, Rosicky, Rezek (Hubschman 46), Baros (Lafata 85).
Goal: Pilar 52.

 Saturday June 9 

Holland 0 Denmark 1
HOLLAND: Stekelenburg, Van Der Wiel (Kuyt 84), Heitinga, Vlaar, Willems, Van Bommel, Nigel De Jong (Van der Vaart 71), Robben, Sneijder, Afellay (Huntelaar 71), van Persie.
DENMARK: Andersen, Jacobsen, Kjaer, Agger, Simon Poulsen, Kvist Jorgensen, Zimling, Rommedahl (Mikkelsen 83), Eriksen (Schone 74), Krohn-Delhi, Bendtner.
Goal: Krohn-Delhi 24.

Germany 1 Portugal 0
GERMANY: Neuer, Boateng, Hummels, Badstuber, Lahm, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Muller (Bender 90), Ozil (Kroos 87), Podolski, Gomez (Klose 80).
Goal: Gomez 72.
PORUGAL: Rui Patricio, Joao Pereira, Bruno Alves, Pepe, Fabio Coentrao, Meireles (Varela 80), Veloso, Joao Moutinho, Nani, Postiga (Nelson Oliveira 70), Ronaldo.

 Sunday June 10 

Republic of Ireland 1 Croatia 3
 
REP IRELAND: Given, O'Shea, St. Ledger, Dunne, Ward, McGeady (Cox 54), Whelan, Andrews, Duff, Doyle (Walters 53), Keane (Long 75).
Goal: St. Ledger 19.
CROATIA: Pletikosa, Srna, Corluka, Schildenfeld, Strinic, Vukojevic, Rakitic (Dujmovic 90), Modric, Perisic (Eduardo 89), Mandzukic, Jelavic (Kranjcar 72).
Goals: Mandzukic 3, Jelavic 43, Given 49 og.

Spain 1 Italy 1

SPAIN: Casillas, Arbeloa, Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Xavi, Busquets, Alonso, Silva (Jesus Navas 65), Fabregas (Torres 74), Iniesta.
Goal: Fabregas 64.
ITALY: Buffon, Chiellini, De Rossi, Bonucci, Giaccherni, Marchisio, Pirlo, Thiago Motta (Nocerino 89), Maggio, Cassano (Giovinco 65), Balotelli (Di Natale 56).
Goal: Di Natale 60.

 Monday June 11 

France 1 England 1

FRANCE: Lloris, Debuchy, Rami, Mexes, Evra, Nasri, Cabaye (Ben Arfa 84), Diarra, Malouda (Martin 84), Ribery, Benzema.
Goal: Nasri 39.
ENGLAND: Hart, Johnson, Terry, Lescott, Cole, Milner, Gerrard, Parker (Henderson 77), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Defoe 77), Young, Welbeck (Walcott 90).
Goal: Lescott 30.

Ukraine 2 Sweden 1

UKRAINE: Pyatov, Gusev, Mykhalyk, Khacheridi, Selin, Yarmolenko, Tymoschuk, Konoplianka (Devic 90), Nazarenko, Voronin (Rotan 84), Shevchenko (Milevskiy 81).
Goals: Shevchenko 55, 62.
SWEDEN: Isaksson, Lustig, Mellberg, Granqvist, Martin Olsson, Elm, Kallstrom, Larsson (Wilhelmsson 69), Ibrahimovic, Toivonen (Svensson 63), Rosenberg (Elmander 71).
Goal: Ibrahimovic 52.

 Tuesday June 12
Wroclaw, Group A: Greece v Czech Republic (1700)
Warsaw, Group A: Poland v Russia (1945)

 Wednesday June 13
Lviv, Group B: Denmark v Portugal (1700)
Kharkiv, Group B: Holland v Germany (1945)

 Thursday June 14
Poznan, Group C: Italy v Croatia (1700)
Gdansk, Group C: Spain v Republic of Ireland (1945)

 Friday June 15
Donetsk, Group D: Ukraine v France (1700)
Kiev, Group D: Sweden v England (1945)

 Saturday June 16
Wroclaw, Group A: Czech Republic v Poland (1945)
Warsaw, Group A: Greece v Russia (1945)

 Sunday June 17
Kharkiv, Group B: Portugal v Holland (1945)
Lviv, Group B: Denmark v Germany (1945)

 Monday June 18
Gdansk, Group C: Croatia v Spain (1945)
Poznan, Group C: Italy v Republic of Ireland (1945)

 Tuesday June 19
Donetsk, Group D: England v Ukraine (1945)
Kiev, Group D: Sweden v France (1945)

 QUARTER-FINALS

 Thursday June 21
Warsaw, QF1: Winner A v Runner-up B (1945)

 Friday June 22
Gdansk, QF2: Winner B v Runner-up A (1945)

 Saturday June 23
Donetsk, QF3: Winner C v Runner-up D (1945)

 Sunday June 24
Kiev, QF4: Winner D v Runner-up C (1945)

 SEMI-FINALS

 Wednesday June 27
Donetsk, SF1: Winner QF1 v Winner QF3 (1945)

 Thursday June 28
Warsaw, SF2: Winner QF2 v Winner QF4 (1945)

 FINAL

 Sunday July 1
Kiev: Winner SF1 v Winner SF2 (1945)