The final “chord” of our national team's triumphant performance in the qualifying campaign for the 2006 World Cup began with a striking rendition of the anthems of Ukraine and Albania – opponents who at Dnipropetrovsk's “Meteor” were no longer deciding any tournament objectives, but were playing solely for their own honor and prestige.
Shevchenko, Shelayev, Tymoshchuk, Rotan, Shovkovskyi and Husiev were actively supported by the local stands during the playing of “Shche ne vmerla Ukraina...” (“Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished...”), generously “painted” in blue and yellow colors. The organizers had taken care of this: before the game, each fan received a special placard with the words of the anthem, which was also meant to serve as a kind of flag (fans of great football raise them, and in an instant the arena turns into a blue-and-yellow sea).
And even earlier, Dnipropetrovsk showed its hospitality: both national teams received its symbols – bread and salt, and from the Ukrainian side this “greeting” was received by team captain Andriy Shevchenko...
Despite the absence of any “obligation” to earn points in this game, today's opponents were not about to just “go through the motions”: from the first minutes the spectators saw genuine attacking football. Already in the 3rd minute, during a counterattack, the guests gave our Shovkovskyi a proper scare, but beating the “Dynamo man” is not so easy: the ball was reliably secured in the goalkeeper's hands.
Seven minutes pass, and Oleksandr is “in the game” again: Bogdani dared to take a long-range shot! But the Albanian's effort resulted only in a corner kick...
This episode became a noticeable “catalyst” for Oleh Blokhin's squad: first Shevchuk, after Voronin's cross, tries to head the ball into the goal, but no luck. And a few minutes later Rotan “reminded” everyone of himself: having received the ball from the left flank in close proximity to the opponent's penalty area, Ruslan instantly “fired” at the near corner, but hit the outside of the net...
New Ukrainian attacks could have realistically changed the score on the board, but first the ball from Voronin's foot flew past the Albanian post, and then Tymoshchuk clutched his head: his “shot” from 32 meters ended with the same result as Andriy's attempt...
A brief “pause” in the form of an Albanian counterattack (Shovkovskyi's professionalism showing) and a free kick near the Ukrainians' penalty area (the ball was stopped by the lined-up “blue-and-yellow” wall) was followed by a series of fresh jabs from the hosts.
Husiev, Tymoshchuk and Rotan again drew applause from the stands, but not for goals scored, rather as a result of spectacular play near Briegel's team's goal.
It seemed the zeros would just keep flickering on the electronic chronograph, but no! When the match referee, Belgian Johan Verbist, glanced at his watch in anticipation of halftime, our boys finally “broke through”... Serhiy Nazarenko softly lofted the ball into the guests' penalty area, and Andriy Shevchenko, finding himself for a moment virtually one-on-one with the Albanian team's goalkeeper Ilion, directed the ball into the net in a jump – 1:0!
The Ukrainians' more than noticeable advantage did not disappear in the second half of the match either. The Albanians occasionally tried to create dangerous episodes near Shovkovskyi's goal, but in most cases they were thwarted by the hosts' pressing.
And in the 59th minute, after thanking the fans, Shevchenko left the field... In his place, to realize his scoring ambitions on the emerald pitch, came Shakhtar Donetsk forward Oleksiy Byelik.
The Ukrainian national team continued to create favorable moments for new goals, but with the same result as in the first half: chances galore, but the score unchanged.
In the 70th minute, another co-author of the goal scored in the 45th minute left the field – Serhiy Nazarenko, who had delivered the assist. In his place, Blokhin brought on yet another reinforcement for the attacking ranks, this time in the person of Andriy Vorobey.
And then we have it... In the 75th minute “Meteor” falls silent: Bogdani makes a spectacular run into the “blue-and-yellow” penalty area – 1:1...
A powerful shot from Voronin (Ilion saves the Albanians), and the Dnipropetrovsk arena senses flickers of despondency: the quick reaction of the same Bogdani allows him to cut through the Ukrainian defense and receive congratulations from his teammates for the second time – 2:1, the Albanians ahead...
However, losing in the final round after such a phenomenal overall success is an ungrateful business: the situation on the scoreboard was corrected by Rotan, driving the ball in from the corner of the Albanians' penalty area – 2:2.
In another match of Group 2, which has already finished, the national teams of Georgia and Kazakhstan played to a 0:0 draw.
Well then, a final tally of 25 points and first place – such is the result of the “blue-and-yellows'” historic battle for direct qualification to the German Mundial. This event will forever remain in the chronicle of our football's achievements, while the unfortunate dropped points in the last two home matches (against Turkey – 0:1, and Albania – 2:2) are unlikely to be remembered in some 5 – 10 years)... Be that as it may, the Ukrainian footballers deserve great gratitude...
True, one must look to the future, because only some 9 months remain until the 2006 World Cup...
UKRAINE – ALBANIA – 2:2 Goals: Shevchenko 45, Rotan 85 – Bogdani 75, 83
UKRAINE: Shovkovskyi Oleksandr, Fedorov Serhiy, Tymoshchuk Anatoliy, Shelayev Oleh, Rusol Andriy, Shevchenko Andriy (59, Byelik Oleksiy), Rotan Ruslan, Husiev Oleh, Voronin Andriy, Nazarenko Serhiy (73, Vorobey Andriy), Shevchuk Vyacheslav.
ALBANIA: Lika Ilion, Beqiri Elvin, Dallku Armend, Cana Lorik, Hasi Besnik, Aliaj Adrian, Skela Ervin, Lala Altin, Tare Igli (70, Kapllani Edmond), Bogdani Erion, Hashi Altin