Ukraine secure comfortable play-off success

Progress secure
Leading 3-0 from Sunday's away first leg, Ukraine already had a place in next summer's finals in their sights, and Djatel swiftly increased their aggregate advantage. Apanaschenko added to her two weekend goals in the second half and Ukraine will go into the 18 November draw in Helsinki.

Early goal
Home coach Anatoliy Kutsev had promised to give the fans in Chernigov a "football feast" and within three minutes they were celebrating a goal. Yuliya Vashchenko's angled drive was parried into the air by Jadranka Knežević in the Slovenia goal and Djatel was in the right place to tap in the loose ball.

Knežević saves
Knežević did well to deny Sunday's double markswoman Apanaschenko in a one-on-one before Lyudmyla Pekur shot wide, while at the other end Slovenia came close when Tanja Vrabel's header forced a save from Nadezhda Baranova. As the half neared its end Djatel hooked wide and Apanaschenko was sent clear again, only for Knežević to repeat her earlier heroics.

Clincher
Slovenia, who had performed superbly in their first major qualifying campaign in more than a decade to get this far, started the second half brightly but gradually Ukraine reclaimed control. Nataliya Zinchenko's effort struck the outside of the post, and she then played a part in the second goal when her cross from the left was headed in by Apanaschenko with 19 minutes left. Late on Knežević again showed her bravery when she advanced to foil Zinchenko, who also shot wide in added time.