Blokhin draws a blank

Ukraine 0-0 F.Y.R. Macedonia

More possession
The hosts dominated possession at the Valeriy Lobanovskyi stadium but Macedonian goalkeeper Petar Milosevski was not troubled that much. Ukraine's best chance came when FC Karpaty Lviv player Serhiy Mizin cracked a shot against the post in the 83rd minute.

Good goalkeeping
Indeed, it was Ukraine goalkeeper Olexandr Shovkovskyi who had more chances to showcase his skills, making a fine interception to deny Georgi Hristov five minutes after half-time and producing a good save to deny Robert Popov five minutes later.

Ukrainian debutants
Blokhin, who became Ukraine coach last month, gave PFC CSKA Moskva defender Bohdan Shershun and FC Dinamo Moskva midfield player Yevhen Lutsenko their full international debuts. FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk's Serhiy Nazarenko and FC Chornomorets Odesa' Olexandr Kosyrin also made their debuts as second-half substitutes.