Ukraine's Andriy Shevchenko celebrates his first goal of the match (Getty Images)
The last two sides to open up play in Euro 2012 were co-hosts Ukraine and Sweden. The battle of yellow and blue started off slowly, but by the end of the evening in Kiev, a European legend would turn back the clock and give everyone, not just the home supporters, what was sure to be one of the defining memories of the tournament.
Neither of these sides were on any pundit's list to win this year, and the first half seemed to leave a lot to be desired. For awhile it seemed like they were destined to replicate the lackluster showing put forth by France and England. The first clean cut chance of the match fell to the Ukraine on 23 minutes when Andriy Shevchenko took a ball from Andriy Yarmolenko and seemed poised to put a shot on target. However the angle was too tough and the Ukrainian captain drug his shot across the six.
The Swedes did get a couple of chances of their own in the first half, especially as the match started to pick up late. The best chance came in minute 39 through AC Milan's Ztalan Ibrahimovic. The big forward took a cross from Rasmus Elm after a throw in but only managed to head it off the post. The teams finished the half still at 0-0 with the Ukraine looking more likely to open the scoring.
That wasn't the case though as the Swedes were first to break through in the 53rd minute. The Ukrainians missed a chance to clear a cross from Sebastian Larsson and Kim Kallstrom passed it over to an onrushing Ibra. The Milan man didn't miss the tap in, and the score was 0-1 to Sweden.
It was just a few minutes later that Shevchenko, the Ukranian captain and European legend rose to the occasion. In the 56th minute he dove in, just like a superhero, and headed in the equalizing goal to send the home crowd into a frenzy. Then in the 62nd minute he drove home the final goal of the match. Oleg Gusev sent in a corner and Shevchenko, formerly of Chelsea among other clubs, rose above the towering Swedes to head home what would be a legendary winning goal, 2-1.
Sweden did have a good chance late though, and perhaps should have equalized. In the 89th minute Johan Elmander took a flick from Ibra and found himself 1v1 with the Ukrainian keeper. Unfortunately for Sweden, he volleyed the ball over the crossbar as they watched their hope for a point sail into the stands.
The fairytale win for Ukraine, whom nobody expected to do anything, puts them top of the group after the England/France draw. They get the French next, while the English will be licking their chops for a chance to get at a Sweden side that was largely underwhelming.
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