Ukraine 2 Sweden 1: match report Oleg Blokhin knew the pressure of expectation would be huge on his team and he looked to experience in his line-up - Anatoily Tymoshchuk, 33, screening the back four, Serhiy Nazarenko, 32, operating in the centre, and Andriy Shevchenko, 35, and Andriy Voronin, 32, up front. Ukraine tried to press early as the Swedes took the measure of the game, hoping to absorb some of the hosts early enthusiasm and wait for a reduction in the incredible noise level. It took fully 23 minutes for Ukraine to create their first clear chance, but Shevchenko dragged his shot across goal after exchanging passes with Andrei Yarmolenko. With 10 minutes left before the break, though, Ukraine suddenly started to ramp it up, growing in confidence. Voronin forced Andreas Isaksson into an undignified flap of a save with a long ranger and, moments later, the former Liverpool player spun away from Kim Kallstrom and slid a pass into Shevchenko in the left-side of the penalty area. The Ukraine captain's initial shot was blocked by Olof Mellberg but he managed to head the rebound into the six-yard box. Rasmus Elm tried to flick it away but only into the path of Yarmolenko. It took a superb block from Andreas Granqvist to prevent a goal. Amidst this flurry of Ukraine attacks, the Swedes came mightily close to scoring. Sebastian Larsson had time to measure a cross from deep on the right and, seeing Zlatan Ibrahimovic pulling away from Oleh Gusev at the far post, delivered ideally. The Sweden captain planted his header back across goal but it clipped the far post and went behind. Ibrahimovic did not have to wait long, though. Seven minutes into the second half and Sweden attacked down the right, exploiting the fact that left-back Yevhen Selin had gone down injured. Larsson sent in a cross which Yarmolenko could only flick weakly to Kallstrom, who squared back into the box for Ibrahimovic to finish. Ukraine needed a response. They got it. Voronin, playing with ingenuity and wit rarely seen in his Liverpool days, worked the ball to Yarmolenko who feinted before clipping in a left-footed inswinging cross. Shevchenko, who had only just recovered from a bang on the knee, leapt headlong to meet it, getting there just ahead of Mellberg, and planting the ball into the back of the net. He wasn't done. Seven minutes later Voronin twisted and turned in the area, forcing a corner. Yevhen Konoplyanka whipped the ball in and Shevchenko anticipated its flight, guiding a header in at the near post. Blokhin skipped around the technical area, punching his fists like an over-excited kid. After surviving some late scares, including one Ibrahimovic rocket and misses from Johan Elmander and Olof Mellberg, the celebrations could begin in earnest.