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MOTD- Ukraine 0-0 England

By on September 10, 2013
England's Rickie Lambert tussles with Ukraine's Edmar as The Three Lions see out their 0-0 draw in Kiev

England’s Rickie Lambert tussles with Ukraine’s Edmar as The Three Lions see out their 0-0 draw in Kiev

England held on to a massively important 0-0 draw against Ukraine in a crucial World Cup qualifier to keep The Three Lions one point ahead of Ukraine in Group H.  Roy Hodgson’s side produced a lackluster performance in Kiev but they all but sealed their spot in next summer’s World Cup anyhow, although if England slip up against Poland or Montenegro in their final two group matches they could risk only managing playoff spot.

The injury-plagued English side came close to beating a team other than San Marino or Moldova for the first time since June 19th 2012 on multiple occasions during the match, but it was Ukraine who could have taken the lead only seconds into the game.  Roman Zozulya burst into the England box and despite Joe Hart plainly bringing the young winger down the Portuguese referee Pedro Proenca didn’t call a penalty.  The lighting paced start continued as Steven Gerrard blasted a sweet long-range effort towards goal in the second minute, which Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov did well to save to his right.  Theo Walcott then was slipped into the Ukraine penalty area down the right through a Rickie Lambert flick

Gary Cahill saw his beautifully placed header at the far post from a Frank Lampard corner kicked off the line by a Ukraine defender at the near post in the fifth minute.  Ukraine began to rain down on the England goal, but Hodgson’s side managed to whether the storm, with Cahill deflecting Yevhen Konoplyanka’s twenty-five yard effort wide in the nineteenth minute.  The Eastern European side ran out of ideas as England tightened the match, but The Three Lions were also struggling to create chances of their own.

Steven Gerrard almost put Hodgson’s side in front in the thirty-third minute with a looping long-rage effort.  As the match rolled on to the second half Ukraine began to create more chances, with Konoplyanka having his curled free-kick from the edge of the box deflected just wide of the post by the England wall.

But England nearly found an injury time winner despite Ukraine seeing most of the possession in the second half, with Kyle Walker sending a desperate long-ball into the box, which Lambert flicked on to Lampard, who sent his powerful header just wide from eight yards.  The Chelsea midfielder or his side wasn’t gifted another chance before referee Pedro Proenca blew for full time after four minutes of added time.

 

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.