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Greece's Dimitrios Salpingidis (R) and Loukas Vyntra celebrate - Source: Reuters -
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Greece qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with a
1-0 victory against hosts Ukraine on Thursday, courtesy of a
first-half goal from Dimitris Salpigidis.
The win gave Greece, who have reached the finals for a second time
after making their bow in 1994, a 1-0 aggregate victory after their
European playoff first leg ended goalless in Athens four days
ago.
Salpigidis struck on 32 minutes when he beat keeper Andriy Pyatov
from close range.
Ukraine had their opponents on the back foot at the start, boxing
them into their own half as the Greeks initially laboured.
The hosts came close through Andriy Shevchenko in the eighth
minute when the striker first failed to connect with a low cross in
the box and then fired wide from six metres.
Greece responded with a chance of their own when Giorgos Samaras
rose above the Ukrainian defence to head a Giorgos Karagounis
free-kick over the bar.
The 2004 European champions then struck against the run of play
when Samaras sliced open the Ukraine defence with a pass for
Salpigidis to fire home.
The Greeks were lucky not to concede an equaliser just before the
break when Ukraine defender Evgen Khacheridi, who had ventured
forward, deflected a cross intended for Shevchenko wide.
Greece, buoyed by their lead, became more confident in the second
half, tackling harder and finding more space in attack as the hosts
surged forward in numbers.
With the clock ticking and in need of two goals, Ukraine came close
to equalising with substitute Evgen Seleznev firing just wide on
the hour.
Another effort by Yaroslav Rakytsky minutes later was blocked by
Greece keeper Alexandros Tzorvas.
The final whistle found Greeks cheering in front of almost empty
stands as most of the disappointed 30,000 Ukrainian fans had left
before the end.
