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DNIPROPETROVSK, Ukraine, Oct 8 - Ukraine, with
their thoughts already fixed on next year's World Cup finals,
settled for a 2-2 home draw against Albania in their last
qualifier on Saturday.
European Player of the Year Andriy Shevchenko headed the
hosts in front just before the break but Erion Bogdani silenced
the partisan home crowd with two late goals in the European zone
Group Two game.
Bogdani equalised with a powerful blast into the top corner
in the 75th minute after going one-on-one with Ukraine keeper
Olexander Shovkovsky and the Siena striker added the second with
a neat back-heel flick seven minutes later.
But Dynamo Kiev midfielder Ruslan Rotan made sure Ukraine
did not suffer their second consecutive defeat by unleashing a
30-metre shot four minutes from time to secure the point.
Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin, however, was visibly unhappy
with the result.
"I find it impossible to motivate the players to give their
all when they already achieved their ultimate goal," he said.
Last month, Ukraine were beaten 1-0 by Turkey four days
after becoming the first European side to clinch a place in the
finals, their first ever.
"I also found out that I shouldn't have experimented too
much with our line-up because, after we had made the
substitutions in the second half, our game disintegrated," added
Blokhin, who rested Shevchenko shortly after the break.
Blokhin's opposite number, Hans-Peter Briegel, had a
different view.
"I had a good pep talk with my players at halftime and they
came out firing in the second half," said the former World Cup
winner with Germany.
"After we scored the two goals, I even thought that we were
going to win. Still, I'm very happy with the outcome. To get a
point against Ukraine on their turf is a great result for us."
Albania, who still have their last game at home to Turkey on
Wednesday, have already reached their best points tally in
qualifiers with 13 from 11 matches. They are fifth in the group.