Saudi Arabia Team: Zaid, Dhoki (Khathran 55), Tukar, Sulimani, Al Montashaari, Al Ghamdi, Ameen (Al Hawsawi 55), Noor (Al Jaber 77), Kariri, Aziz, Al Khatani

Ukraine Team: Shovkovskiy, Tymoschuk, Nesmanchiy, Sviderskiy, Rusol, Gusev, Shelayev, Kalinichenko, Voronin (Gusin 79), Shevchenko (Milavskiy 86), Rebrov (Rotan 71)

Match Report: After Ukraine suffered a hammering in their opening game by Spain, they would hope to get their qualification hopes back on track against the Saudis. Saudi Arabia boosted by their point taken from Tunisia would hope to frustrate Ukraine and maybe nick another point.

Any optimistic hopes the Saudis had going into this game didn't last long.

The Saudi keeper Zaid conceded a silly corner when attempting to play football in his own box, and then Noor defending it almost headed into his own net for an own goal. The ball went just over for another Ukraine corner.

Ukraine punished them by scoring the opener from the second corner kick with barely 3 minutes gone as Rusol arrived from the back to bundle the ball home at the near post with his knee.

Saudi Arabia looked decidedly shaky at the back, a point which I'm sure wasn't missed by the Ukranians.

Noor and Ameen looked lively in midfield for the Saudis early on, but there was little support going forward and most of the Saudi possession fragmented fairly quickly. Not so for the Ukraine as the early goal gave them the confidence to advance at every opportunity.

Gusev was a willing runner from right back and was having good succes putting balls into the box, winning a string of corners that Zaid looked very uncomfortable with. Kalinichenko was basically having the run of the pitch and was appearing down both sides and through the middle, looking threatening every time he got hold of the ball.

A great through ball from Kalinichenko looked to have put Shevchenko clear, but the striker stopped running when it looked as though all he had to do was stroll onto the ball and hit it. A strange decision.

Rebrov too was looking quick and lively as Shevchenko's partner up front and the Saudi defence had real trouble tracking him when he dropped off into the hole to receive it deep.

Shevchenko tried one from distance, Voronin just couldn't stretch for one in front of goal, and then Rebrov executed a tidy turn and shot from 35 yards that gave the Ukranians a deserved 2-0 lead. Zaid slipped as Rebrov hit the ball, but the shot was so well hit it probably would have gone in anyway.

The remainder of the half was played out with Ukraine pressing for a third, and Saudi Arabia probably praying for the whistle. Kalinichenko was getting involved in everything, creating the play, slipping passes into the channels and having the odd shot whenever he fancied.

Half Time: Saudi Arabia 0 Ukraine 2

Whatever was said to Saudi Arabia in the break, the players mustn't have listened to it. Unless it was "Let's go down to 3-0 early, it'll spur us on".

Shevchenko scored his first ever World Cup goal when Kalinichenko's precise cross found his head, with him on the six yard line unmarked. Shevchenko doesn't generally miss from there. The second half was not yet 1 minute old.

Saudi Arabia did get more into the game in the second half ,but they were always struggling to get real quality possession. Noor almost got Al Hawsawi in with a fine pass, but there always seemed to be an extra Ukraine man on hand to snuff out any danger. Still the best openings came for Ukraine, and more goals were expected.

Kalinichenko hit a rasping shot that had the keeper beaten all ends up, but struck the bar. then Tymoschuk played a superb pass over the defence to Shevchenko, who's chest trap was superb, but he wasn't quick enough to get his shot away and the chance was smothered.

Shevchenko then broke away clear and unselfishly squared the ball for Kalinichenko, who stroked home a well deserved goal on 83 minutes.

A dejected Saudi side then suffered another onslaught for the remainder of the game as Kalinichenko again went close and Tymoschuk and Nesmanchiy both had good efforts.

A good morale boosting win for the Ukranians, but misery for the Saudi's who couldn't do anything right on the day.

Full Time: Saudi Arabia 0 Ukraine 4

Saudi Arabia Ratings: Zaid 3, Dhoki 6 (Khathran 5), Tukar 5, Sulimani 5, Al Montashaari 6, Al Ghamdi 5, Ameen 5 (Al Hawsawi 5), Noor 6 (Al Jaber 4), Kariri 4, Aziz 4, Al Khatani 4

Ukraine Ratings: Shovkovskiy 5, Tymoschuk 7, Nesmanchiy 6, Sviderskiy 6, Rusol 6, Gusev 7, Shelayev 5, Kalinichenko 9, Voronin 6 (Gusin 5), Shevchenko 6 (Milavskiy 5), Rebrov 7 (Rotan 5)

Referee: G. Poll (England) 5. A fair performance but a bit theatrical at times. Kept stopping the game.

Good: Kalinichenko looked freaking marvelous. Where was he last week against Spain? Will he do it against a better team than Saudi Arabia?

Bad: Saudi Arabia just had areal off day. Especially their keeper who looked scared.

Ugly: Some 70's porn star hairstyles sported by the Ukranians. Perhaps that's fashionable there?