Ukraine wins match, loses two defenders

Ukraine's win was costly, and the price was two defenders.

Photo: Ukraine wins match, loses two defenders

Ukraine wins match, loses two defenders

The former Soviet republic advanced to the second round of the World Cup on Friday, beating Tunisia 1-0 in Group H to claim second place behind Spain.

But Andriy Rusol, who scored Ukraine's opening goal in its 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia, and Vyacheslav Sviderskyi will both miss their team's second round match after picking up their second yellow cards.

Ukraine coach Oleh Blokhin said team doctors were still concerned about another defender, Vladimir Yezersky, who sat out the matches against Tunisia and Saudi Arabia because of a right thigh injury.

From the start, Ukraine has beem short of defenders with international experience.

Having lost to Spain 4-0 and allowed nine shots by Tunisia, Ukraine's defense could turn out to be its weak link as it heads to the knockout round.

"Maybe I and my coaching staff will have to play ourselves," Blokhin joked.

Andriy Shevchenko, who scored from the penalty spot friday to give Ukraine the victory over Tunisia, is also not yet fully fit since returning from a nagging knee injury.

"It takes time to overcome this," Blokhin said. "The weather can also be unhelpful. Shevchenko was getting tired toward the end today."

Blokhin dismissed his team's lackluster performance against Tunisia.

"Even if we'd played to 0-0 I would have been satisfied," Blokhin said. "I don't want to dwell on this performance. We're through and I don't want anything to detract from our achievement."

Blokhin also seemed unconcerned about which team Ukraine will meet Monday in the second round.

"At this stage the teams that are through got there because they've played well. Other teams and ours," Blokhin said. "And you never know what's going to happen," reports AP.

O.Ch.