Late strike gives Ukraine 2-2 draw with Spain

Olexander Gorshkov struck with a crashing volley two minutes into injury time to earn Ukraine a 2-2 draw with Group Six leaders Spain in a thrilling Euro 2004 qualifier on Saturday.

Ukraine went ahead after 11 minutes when Andriy Voronin took advantage of a mistake from goalkeeper Iker Casillas to sweep in a cross from Andriy Shevchenko.

Raul pounced on a Diego Tristan pass to level the scores seven minutes from time in what proved the first act in a dramatic finish.

Joseba Etxeberria capitalised on a Ruben Baraja through ball to put Spain ahead with a drilled shot in the 87th minute and with Shevchenko already having left the field the odds were stacked against a Ukraine comeback.

With time running out, they forced a corner on the left, though, and the ball was worked over to the edge of the area, where Gorshkov snatched the draw with his wonderful shot.

Spain stay top of the group with seven points from three games, while Ukraine are second on six points, having played a game more. Spain will look to stretch their lead on Wednesday, when they play host to Armenia.

Spain went into the game with maximum points from their two previous games and the way they started suggested a third straight victory was on the cards.

Guti was just over the bar with a snap shot from outside the area in the second minute and the visitors continued to cause problems through Etxeberria and Vicente on the wings.

The game was changed by the mistake from Casillas, though, as the Real Madrid keeper failed to cut out Shevchenko's whipped cross to the far post, leaving an unmarked Voronin to guide in his shot.

Raul almost forced an equaliser after 26 minutes, when his shot took a deflection off Serhiy Fyodorov and flashed just wide.

Ukraine were also looking dangerous and Shevchenko clipped the outside of a post with a looping free kick that had Casillas in trouble once again.

Spain coach Inaki Saez brought on creative midfielders Juan Carlos Valeron and Xavi just past the hour mark in an attempt to find another route through to the forwards.

Ukraine held firm until Saez made his last throw of the dice, bringing on Tristan in place of Guti.

The Deportivo Coruna forward managed to thread a pass through to Raul at the far post and at full strength he stabbed a shot past Olexander Shovkovsky.

Raul's goal was the cue for a furious final few minutes, with Spain gaining the lead only to lose it to Gorshkov's brilliant strike.