Ukraine vs Sweden, 2012 European Championship, Group Stage

· UEFA European Championship

Ukraine

55': Andriy Shevchenko
61': Andriy Shevchenko

FT
2 - 1

Sweden

52': Zlatan Ibrahimovic

About

Ukraine are hosting Sweden at Kiev Olympic Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine, starting on . The match is a part of the UEFA European Championship.

Match Timeline

0': Euro 2012 co-hosts Ukraine open their account against Sweden at the gloriously revamped Olympic Stadium in Kiev, looking to take control of Group D after France and England drew 1-1. After Poland opened the tournament on Friday, this is Ukraine's chance to announce themselves on the world stage.
0': Ukraine must hope they don't become paralysed with fear, as Poland's coach Franciszek Smuda thought his side did on Friday. Sweden represents a winnable game for coach Oleg Blokhin's side though, despite the presence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the opposition.
0': To get you in the mood, why not have a read of Chris Borg's match preview. And join us shortly to find out which of the teams that operates in yellow and blue will emerge as victors.
0':
Which Ibrahimovic will turn up tonight?
0': The team news is in, with no real surprises in either line up. Shevchenko and Voronin start up top for Ukraine, who clearly won't be relying on their pace to create goals. The two wide players, Yarmolenko and Konoplyanka do though, and the experienced Tymoschuk will sit in.
0': Ibrahimovic starts in this new role he plays for Sweden now, as support striker slash creator. Rosenborg tends to operate furthest forward, while the names of Kallstrom, Larsson and Toivonen are well known around Europe. They are tipped as favourites by many, but they have a tidal wave of national fervour to overcome.
0': There is a sea of yellow in the Olympic Stadium, ungraciously described as a giant custard bowl by our commentator. Shevchenko and Ibrahimovic meet at the head of the two lines of players, two icons of their national support going head to head.
0': This is a huge ask for Ukraine as they play their first competitive match in two years, against the backdrop of such expectancy. A wall of noise greets the teams as they emerge into the stadium. What a feeling that must be.
0': A tad on the long side Ukraine's anthem, but all of it was sung with gusto. Now it is Sweden's turn.
1': KICK OFF
2': I think I'm in love with Sweden's away kit. It's gorgeous.
3': Khacheridi is clattered by an eager Rosenberg.
4': Now Granqvist barges into Voronin. Sweden clearly keen not to let Ukraine settle at all.
5': Konoplyanka cuts in from the right and blasts a shot wide. The Ukrainian fans liked that. Kallstrom replies with a drive of his own, two yards over the bar.
6': Granqvist beats Shevchenko in the air as Selin launches up a long ball.
7': Konoplyanka again cuts inside and finds Voronin but his attempted pass is cut out by Elm.
8': Mellberg wins the ball from Shevchenko. There are 232 caps between those two. Not half bad.
9': Larsson prepares to whip in a free kick.
10': .But this one is very poor, far too deep and Pyatov collects before setting Ukraine away on the break. Kallstrom attempts to stop it and is rewarded with a card for tripping Gusev.
12': Much the brighter start from the hosts. Not much penetration to speak of though.
13': Tymoschuk is penalised for an inadvertent trip of Olsson. Elm will take the free kick.
14': His was even worse than Larsson's. Ibrahimovic can't keep it in at the back post. Poor. Not a great opening 15 in truth.
15': Granqvist climbs over Voronin to win a ball and gets a shin in his face. The ref gives Ukraine a foul too.
16': First slice of quality in the game as Ibrahimovic delivers a dangerous ball into the mixer. Pyatov punches it clear before Selin completes the clearance.
17': Sweden must just get Ibra on the ball whenever they can. That was lovely football, holding off Mikhalik and creating space before curling a devillish ball in.
18': Olsson whips in a ball without looking. Had he perused the penalty area he'd have seen none of his team-mates were in it.
19': A very bitty start to the game and the vociferous home crowd starting to get a little concerned you sense.
20': Yarmolenko raced down the left then dived shamelessly as Larsson came across. As Sweden break, Toivonen looks for Rosenberg but he can't turn the ball home and was offside in any case.
21': Space on the right for Gusev but his cross is deflected and Sweden clear. Ibrahimovic is again involved before Larsson loses the ball on the right.
22': Elm takes a leaf out of Delap's book with a long throw but then Ukraine break.
24': Oh dear Shevchenko - a great break from Ukraine and a nice one-two puts the former AC Milan striker in the clear but he drags his shot well wide from a tight angle. A nation groans.
25': Shevchenko has gone down off the ball clutching his thigh. That was an odd one. Back up now saying he's alright.
26': Voronin makes a good run from deep and Nazarenko's pass very nearly finds him beyond Mellberg.
27': Mellberg marauds forward - not often you hear that in a sentence - but after he feeds Kallstrom the cross is blocked. Sweden win a corner.
28': Konoplyanka is tripped by Lustig and Ukraine have a free kick now.
29': Nazarenko's delivery is deep, in keeping with the previous efforts, and Isaksson claims.
30': Ibrahimovic attempts a shot on the turn and the ball squirts out for a throw in.
31': A shot on target at last as Toivonen flicks on to Rosenberg but his effort lacks power even though Pyatov makes a bit of a meal of it.
32': Quite a lot of aimless punting from both sides when they are in possession.
33': Voronin looks to have won the ball off a dawdling Olsson but the ref hands Sweden a free kick, for which they are grateful, as Yarmolenko was off into the area.
34': Cute pass from Nazarenko as he sets Voronin off and the former Liverpool striker hits a powerful shot right at Isaksson but the goalkeeper parries up into the air.
35': At the other end Ibrahimovic attempts to dribble through the whole of Ukraine before winning a corner. A shot might have been more appropriate.
36': Larsson rises high to claim the corner under no pressure. Delivery into the box, aside from Ibrahimovic's cross, has been awful.
37': Konoplyanka cust in again and has a pop but though it swerves late it was always bypassing the back post on the wrong side.
38': Big chances for Ukraine! Voronin finds Shevchenko - his shot is blocked - but he nods across goal where Yarmolenko's effort from six yards is blocked by a posse of navy blue shirts.
39': Very slack from Khacheridi, putting Pyatov in trouble and from the throw in, Ibrahimovic is all alone but nods Elm's cross against the outside of the post. Well, the game has come to life.
40': A much-needed flurry of chances from a game that has probably been one of the worst we've seen at the tournament so far.
41': Acres of space for Gusev on the right flank, he dinks a cross to Konoplyanka at the back post but he fires a volley over the bar. Good build up though. Ukraine look neat in possession.
42': Elm wants a foul for Shevchenko's grappling but nothing doing. Sweden reclaim the ball quickly enough though.
43': Why didn't Voronin play like this at Anfield? He's been excellent in the first half. No, really.
44': Toivonen hasn;t really been tracking back as much as he should have been. Most openings coming down Ukraine's right flank. Gusev loves getting forward.
45': HALF TIME - A half that came to life in the last ten minutes after a pretty poor opening. Ibrahimovic was Sweden's best player and he should have scored with his header but Ukraine have looked more lively, with Shevchenko wasting their best chance.
0': Sweden defending very deep in that opening half until the last 15 minutes when they pushed up a bit and Ukraine started getting through a bit more. Just seen a replay of Shevchenko's chance. He'd have buried that if it had been wearing red and black.
0': Looking ahead to tomorrow, the other hosts Poland, have a chance to redeem themselves after a second half collapse against Greece. Here's our match preview.
0': As for the other match, it is win or bust for the Czech Republic, who were hit for four by Russia in their opener. They will play a buoyant Greece side who battled back for a good point against Poland to play the role of party poopers. Here's our preview of that one.
0': The teams emerge for the second half and with England and France to come, you have to feel they need to grasp the nettle and win this game.
46': No changes to either side as we begin again...
47': Lively start from Ukraine as Yarmolenko crosses and Voronin hooks the ball across goal from the rebound. Elm clears.
48': Larsson fouls Konoplyanka to relive a little bit of pressure on Ukraine who were caught up near their corner flag.
49': Now a chance for Sweden as Larsson wins the ball well, it spins out wide to Rosenberg but his shot is well blocked by Selin.
50': Shevchenko looks in pain again after a clash with Granqvist. Looks like he bumped his knee. He's back up and running now.
52': GOAL Ibrahimovic scores! Selin was down but Sweden played on, a deep Larsson cross wasn't cleared by Yarmolenko and as Rosenberg passed it across, Ibra turned it home.
53': Ukraine are not happy at all as Selin was on the deck and clearly in pain. That meant everyone else was out of position but Yarmolenko has to take a fair share of the blame. He had a chance to nod clear and snuff out the danger.
54': This will be a big test for Ukraine now. The stadium has been silenced and Sweden are starting to look comfortable on the ball.
55': GOAL Shevchenko equalises! He rolls back the years with a superb header from Yarmolenko's cross and we are level!
56': And didn't he enjoy that! Had Ukraine not been awarded Euro 2012 Shevchenko probably would have quit years ago but he's still here and still has that predatory instinct. Great movement to get in front of Mellberg.
57': Now Voronin and Konoplyanka exchange slick passes and Larsson prevents the latter getting into the area.
58': Gusev goes for glory as the ball comes back to him on the corner of the penalty area but he can't keep his head over the strike.
60': A much better game in this second half. Far more adventure on display.
61': Voronin gets good possession inside the area, turns Granqvist but has hit shot slash cross blocked by Lustig.
62': GOAL Shevchenko again! What a fairytale! He meets the corner at the near post and glances home. Pandemonium in the custard bowl!
63': A catalogue of errors from Sweden - Ibrahimovic lost Shevchenko and Lustig had wandered ever so slightly from his near post station.
64': Ibra's frustration is growing. He was bundled over by Khacheridi but no foul was given, then he gets up and bundles his opponent over. Foul given.
65': Tymoschuk is down now after Kallstrom treads on the top of his foot. He's been booked too.
66': Svensson has come on for Toivonen.
67': The dreaded Mexican wave rushes round the custard bowl. Quite a sight.
68': Another change, Larsson makes way for Wilhelmsson.
69': Good break from Elm - he gallops onto Kallstrom's ball but can only loop it up for Pyatov to catch.
70': Down the other end, Konoplyanka fires over from outside the box.
71': Rosenberg heads off and Johan Elmander is on, having recovered from a broken foot sustained in a game for Galatasaray in the last game of the Turkish season.
72': Mellberg is penalised for an arm that crashes into Voronin's head. Fair to say he doesn't agree with the call.
74': Lovely chest down from Konplyanka, who then tries to score with a half volley from 35 yards out. Come on lad, you're not Papiss Cisse.
75': Sweden must hope that the pressure of holding onto this lead gets to Ukraine. This would be a seismic win for them.
76': Excellent exchange between Ibrahimovic and Elm, it sets up a chance to shoot that Ibra gleefully accepts, thumping a tracer bullet shot at Pyatov who does well to repel it.
77': Really good run from Wilhelmsson, as he races into the area, goes round Selin but can't poke the ball across goal before Pyatov gets there.
78': Voronin harries towards Isaksson who looks less than confident clearing with his left foot.
79': Better from Sweden as Wilhelmsson cuts inside and ends a nice move with a shot right at Pyatov.
81': Shevchenko trots off to a huge ovation, he is a God in these parts. Milevskiy replaces him.
82': Very well done from Voronin, who swaps passes with the new man and wins a foul from Elm as he lurched towards the edge of the area.
83': Nazarenko fires the free kick a yard wide of the post.
84': Voronin, the other veteran striker, heads off after a very good shift. Ruslan Rotan is on.
85': Ibrahimovic nods Kallstrom's cross back towards the penalty spot before Milevskiy wins a free kick from the clumsy Mellberg.
86': Again Wilhelmsson provdes danger for Ukraine as he swings in a tempting cross that neither Mikhalik nor Khacheridi can clear. Luckily for them, Ibra couldn't turn it home.
87': A very sloppy passage of play - the heat taking its toll. Ukraine can smell the finish line and they are wobbling a little.
88': Milevskiy does well to break but neglects to pick out a telling pass. Yarmolenko then gets involved before Gusev fouls Mellberg.
89': What a miss! Elmander misses on the volley from 12 yards after he'd run onto to Ibrahimovic's delightful flick. Sweden needed Ibra himself to be on the end of that.
90': The keeper had come out to meet Elmander but he just went for power when a dink might have been the better option. The relief inside the stadium was palpable.
91': The lively Konoplyanka is heading off to be replaced by Marko Devic
92': Another chance for Sweden as Mellberg gets to the back post and shins a volley over Pyatov but onto the top of the net.
93': Olsson goes down on the edge of the box but a goal kick is given. Mikhalik leaned into him but there wasn't enough there for a foul.
94': FULL TIME - they've done it! The Olympic Stadium erupts! Wild celebrations on the pitch and in the stands. A fabulous night for Ukraine and for the biggest footballing hero they have ever had - Andriy Shevchenko.
94': That sets Ukraine up very nicely in the group - they go top above France and England. And with such backing behind them those two sides will underestimate the co-hosts at their peril.
94': For Sweden, they have to get something from their next match with England or they are pretty much cooked. They were much brighter in the second half but Ibrahimovic was frustrating as ever, and both Rosenberg and Elmander were disappointing.

Statistics

SWE		UKR
20	Fouls	12
2	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
1	Offsides	2
2	Corner Kicks	3
1	Saves	3
45.3	Possession	54.7
12	SHOTS	13
4	ON GOAL	3
0.3	On Target %	0.2
0	Penalty Goals	0
0	Penalty Kicks Taken	0
269	Accurate Passes	349
357	Passes	441
0.8	Pass Completion %	0.8
4	Accurate Crosses	4
18	Crosses	13
0.2	Cross %	0.3
53	Long Balls	91
23	Accurate Long Balls	51
0.4	Long Balls %	0.6
1	Blocked Shots	2
8	Effective Tackles	11
13	Tackles	14
0.6	Tackle %	0.8
13	Interceptions	9
11	Effective Clearances	19
18	Clearances	33

Game Information

Competition: UEFA European Championship

Venue: Kiev Olympic Stadium
Location: Kiev, Ukraine
Attendance: 68,000

EURO Table

#	TEAM	GP	GD	PTS
1	Austria	3	+2	6
2	France	3	+1	5
3	Netherlands	3	0	4
4	Poland	3	-3	1

Full Table

Line-Ups

Ukraine (4-2-3-1)

No.	Name
12	Andriy Pyatov (GK)
3	Yevhen Khacheridi
17	Taras Mikhalik
2	Yevgen Selin
9	Oleg Gusev
10	Andriy Voronin
18	Serhiy Nazarenko
4	Anatoliy Tymoshchuk
7	Andriy Shevchenko
19	Yevhen Konoplyanka
11	Andriy Yarmolenko

Ukraine Substitutes:

Oleksandr Goryainov, Denys Garmash, Olexandr Kucher, Yevhen Seleznyov, Ruslan Rotan, Marko Devic, Vyacheslav Shevchuk, Yaroslav Rakitskiy, Artem Milevskiy, Oleksandr Aliev, Bohdan Butko, Maksym Koval.

Sweden (4-4-1-1)

No.	Name
1	Andreas Isaksson (GK)
4	Andreas Granqvist
3	Olof Mellberg
5	Martin Olsson
2	Mikael Lustig
9	Kim Källström
6	Rasmus Elm
20	Ola Toivonen
7	Sebastian Larsson
22	Markus Rosenberg
10	Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Sweden Substitutes:

Pär Hansson, Christian Wilhelmsson, Samuel Holmén, Johan Wiland, Behrang Safari, Mikael Antonsson, Emir Bajrami, Johan Elmander, Anders Svensson, Tobias Hysen, Pontus Wernbloom, Jonas Olsson.

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