Ukraine and Russia joined by Poland

Ukraine and Russia both claimed their places in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship second qualifying round with a match to spare to eliminate hosts Cyprus and Kazakhstan - and they will be joined in the next stage by Poland.

Polish relief
The group was won on goal difference by 2003/04 final tournament contenders Ukraine, who did not concede in their three games and ended with a 0-0 draw against Russia. Cyprus finished in third after a final-day win against Kazakhstan, but their record was not enough to take them into the Elite round - with Poland from Group 1 gaining the place having been the only side to pick up three points against the top two from their pool.

Five-goal flourish
Ukraine, began the section in impressive fashion, brushing aside the mini-tournament hosts at the Paphiako stadium in Paphos to record a 5-0 victory. Volodymyr Lysenko opened the scoring in the eighth minute before Dmytro Lopa added another eight minutes into the second half and Lysenko scored his second and Ukraine's third a minute later. Lysenko completed his hat-trick in the 56th minute and Ivan Korotkyy wrapped up the victory with a fifth goal five minutes past the hour, with Cypriot misery completed by the dismissal of substitute Chrysostomos Nikolaou four minutes from time.

Opening victory
Russia also started strongly in Paphos at the Peyia Municipal stadium, Amir Bazhev and a Kantemir Berkhamov penalty giving Nikolay Smirnov's side a 2-0 lead by the 23rd minure. Although Dmitriy Bassenko halved the deficit seven minutes into the second half, two goals in six minutes from Valeriy Sokolov and Artem Dzyuba gave the Russians a three-goal cushion and left Yuriy Logvnenko's goal two minutes into added time as little consolation.

Russia through
With those victories under their belts, Russia and Ukraine repeated the trick two days later to ensure their progress. Russia defeated the hosts 1-0 at the Paphiako stadium, substitute Artem Kuzmichev scoring 24 minutes from time having been sent on early in the second half.

Ukraine progress
Meanwhile, Ukraine claimed a 3-0 victory against Kazakhstan at the Peyia Municipal stadium, Korotkyy putting his side ahead in the 21st minute. Lopa claimed Ukraine's second on 78 minutes, and within 60 seconds substitute Yuriy Shevel had added to his team's tally.

Cyprus consolation
A 0-0 draw at the Paphiako stadium on the final day ensured Ukraine took first place ahead of Russia. Both Cyprus and Kazakhstan knew they were out before their meeting at the Chloraka stadium in Chloraka, but the hosts gained a consolation with a 2-1 victory.