Olé, Olé, Olé, Olé

Spain vs Ukraine
Leipzig

Spain started out with the early attacking moves against Ukraine, in Leipzig; Sergio Ramos making some good runs out of the right back position.

After just twelve minutes Spain's surprise inclusion, Marcos Senna from Villarreal, earned the corner that lead to Spain's first goal; after his blazing shot was tipped over the bar by Olexandr Shovkovskiy.

In the goal-mouth scramble that followed, Xabi Alonso was credited with the touch that sent the ball towards the back of the net.

Four minutes later, Spain had doubled their lead from another set-piece; when the Ukraine wall jumped and Andriy Rusol, who had just been booked, helped David Villa's free-kick past Shovkovskiy.

Ukraine, having warmed up too slow, struggled to get good movement going between the holding midfield players and the front-runners; Shevchenko needing to come deeper himself to get a touch on the ball.

Then a bad defensive header fell to Shevchenko who released Andriy Voronin, three minutes before half-time, but again the team in yellow were flagged for offside.

Half-time: (2:0).

Two minutes after the break, Massimo Busacca, the Swiss referee, dealt a knockout blow to the Ukrainians; by awarding the first penalty of the 2006 World Cup Finals and sending off Vladislav Vashchuk. Fernando Torres had already shot before he fell and didn't really seem to be pulled down.

David Villa stepped up to score Spain's third; although Shovkovskiy dived the right way and maybe just brushed the ball with his finger tips.

With a comfortable lead established, Luis Aragones could afford to make a double substitution early and warm-up Raul.

On the hour, Ukraine's best chance fell to Voronin; who controlled the ball on his thight before releasing a shot just wide of the far post, from the right edge of the area.
Substitute, Serhiy Rebrov also wasted a golden opportunity when right in front of goal, by carelessly shooting over the bar.

Spain weren't prepared to just sit on the three-goal lead as, ten minutes from time, Carles Puyol won the ball deep in his own half; laid the ball off and ran down the left, to head the return into the path of Fernando Torres.

Oleg Blokhin, the Ukraine trainer, just smiled from the bench and shook his head; as if to say: "What can I do here?"

At least Ukraine have Saudi Arabia next.

Final Score:
Spain 4 - Ukraine 0

Teams
Spain: (Captain Iker Casillas)
1 Iker Casillas; 3 Mariano Pernia, 5 Carles Puyol, 15 Sergio Ramos, 22 Ibanez Pablo; 8 Hernandez Xavi, 14 Xabi Alonso, 16 Marcos Senna; 9 Fernando Torres, 11 Luis Garcia, 21 David Villa.

Ukraine: (Captain Andriy Shevchenko)
1 Olexandr Shovkovskiy; 2 Andriy Nesmachniy, 5 Volodymyr Yezerskiy, 6 Andriy Rusol, 17 Vladislav Vashchuk; 4 Anatoliy Tymoschuk, 9 Oleg Gusev, 14 Andriy Gusin, 21 Ruslan Rotan; 7 Andriy Shevchenko, 10 Andriy Voronin.

Referee:
Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)