Ukraine - Germany 1:1


Match Number:	707
Date:		10.11.2001
Location:	Kiev (Ukraine)
Competition:	World Cup Qualifying Playoff, 1st leg

UKRAINE:
Lewitzky
Luzhny, Vaztchuk, Golovko, Nezmatchnij
Subov, Gussin, Timoschtschuk (73. Parfionov)
Schevchenko
Vorobezh (76. Melaschenko), Rebrow (56. Schischtschenko)  
 
GERMANY: 
Kahn
Rehmer, Nowotny, Linke
B. Schneider (80. Ricken), Ramelow, Hamann, Ziege
Ballack
Asamoah, Zickler (68. Jancker)  
 
Statistik:     
Attendance:   85,000 (sold out. Might have been as high as 100,000)
 
Scoring:
1:0 Subov (18.)
1:1 Ballack (31.) 

Ref:   Braschi (Italy) 

Yellow card: Nezmatschny
A good result for Germany in the World Cup playoff. The recent poor performances had given no indication that the DFB squad would be able to bring home anything. The Ukrainians were confidently predicting a victory.

The game started somewhat ragged, with the Ukrainians pressing, egged on by the fanatical crowd. A wicked shot by Subov gave them the lead, and the whole nation exploded into celebration. Nevertheless, the Germans actually seemed to clam down, and continued their game plan of trying to control the ball and keep the defense in tight. Soon, they were rewarded as Michael Ballack scored on a short range effort to knot the score.

As the game wore on, the Ukrainians began to get desperate, launching futile attacks in an effort to seize the initiative. This led their defense to be exposed to German counterattacks. Overall, a master strategic plan by interim coach Rudi Voeller paid off in full, and the Germans took home a critical, but deserved, point.


Abseits Guide to German Soccer