Ukraine 0 - 1 Greece

Greeks earn Donetsk shock

Updated: November 18, 2009, 3:00 AM ET

Dimitris Salpigidis scored the only goal as Greece clinched a place at the 2010 World Cup courtesy of a narrow victory over Ukraine at the Donbass Arena in Donetsk.

• Greece toast World Cup triumph

Salpigidis timed his run to perfection just after the half-hour mark to clip a composed finish beyond Ukraine goalkeeper Andrei Piatov, following Celtic striker Giorgos Samaras' superb through-ball.

Alexei Mikhailichenko's side, needing to score twice to keep their qualification hopes alive, penned the Greeks in the own half for long spells in the second half but failed to breach a visiting rearguard inspired by goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas, who made a string of fine saves.

It is the first time Greece, the 2004 European Champions, have qualified for a World Cup since 1994 in the United States.

Ukraine had the advantage going into the game after they held Greece to a goalless draw in Saturday's first leg in Athens, and the hosts began brightly amid driving rain.

And they should have been ahead after seven minutes when Andrey Shenchenko blazed wastefully over the crossbar with the goal gaping as he followed up Oleksandr Aliyev's shot.

Greece responded through Samaras, who headed narrowly over from Giorgos Karagounis's right-wing free-kick.

The hosts continued to push forward and Aliyev's free-kick was brilliantly saved by Greek goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas.

In keeping with the pattern of the match, it was Greece's turn to go forward next and the visitors missed a golden chance to score a minute later when Salpigidis miskicked with only the keeper to beat after neat interplay down the left involving Angelos Charisteas and Nikos Spiropoulos.

Salpigidis, who worked tirelessly down the right, atoned for his error in the 31st minute, latching on to Samaras' sublime pass and slipping a low shot past Piatov and into the bottom corner.

Having held on to their lead comfortably until half-time, Greece found themselves on the backfoot in the second half as Ukraine pushed for an equalizer.

Each time the hosts threatened, though, they were denied by Tzorvas, the Panathinaikos keeper making a smart saves from Aliyev's free-kick and Shevchenko's shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Otto Rehhagel introduced Theofanis Gekas, top scorer in qualifying with 10 goals, for Samaras just after the hour mark in an effort to refresh his frontline, but it was Ukraine who continued to press forward.

For all their neat passing, however, there was little penetration from the hosts and Theofanis Gekas should have done better when he was sent clear by Spiropoulos's long ball on the counter.

The Bayer Leverkusen man inexplicably opted to slow down and try to turn the last defender and the ball got caught under his feet and the chance was gone.

Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, a peripheral figure in the Ukraine midfield, passed up a good chance to score with just three minutes left, blazing over when presented with time and space 18 yards from goal.

And there was still time for Tzorvas to make another diving save from Yevgev Seleznov as Greece held firm to seal their place in South Africa.

Greece toast World Cup triumph

Greece striker Angelos Charisteas toasted another significant chapter in Greek football after Otto Rehhagel's team claimed a place at the 2010 World Cup at the expense of Ukraine.

''This is a very important moment for Greek football. It's simply fantastic,'' said Charisteas, the man who scored the winner in the final against Portugal at Euro 2004. ''We played very well throughout the game, especially in the first half. We got the lead thanks to a beautiful goal from Dimitris Salpigidis and then we held them comfortably, I thought.

''We had to defend well in the second half but we were determined and we are going to the World Cup.''

''It's a massive success for us,'' added goal hero Salpigidis, who showed great composure to slot the ball past Alexei Piatov after being played in by Celtic frontman Giorgos Samaras' sublime through-ball.

''It's a day of celebration for Greeks all over the world. All those people who have made negative comments during these past few days now have their answer from what we have done on the pitch. We have answered our critics.''

Mikhailichenko was understandably despondent after his side's defeat.

''I feel very disappointed and sad that we lost,'' he said. ''There are no excuses. The boys did everything they could to try and get the win but they didn't succeed.

''We were a little out of luck. I can't say that my team played badly. I believe that the team which deserved to go to the World Cup has won.''