Fri 23rd Jun 2006

Ukraine earned a place in the World Cup knockout phase after a drab 1-0 win over 10-man Tunisia in Berlin on Friday.

Zied Jaziri was sent off just before the break, but Ukraine failed to capitalise until the 71st minute when Andriy Shevchenko dusted himself down to fire home from the penalty spot to seal the runners-up spot in Group H.

Hamed Namouchi fired a 30-yard free-kick straight at Olexandr Shovkovskiy in an uneventful opening.

Andriy Voronin had the first real chance of the game with 21 minutes on the clock but his angled drive from the right side of the area was repelled by Ali Boumnijel at his near post.

While moments later Shevchenko failed to make contact with a high ball which dropped over his shoulder in the box as Ukraine cranked up the pressure.

And on the stroke of half-time Oleg Shelayev stung the palms of Boumnijel from outside the box before Jaziri was harshly sent off for two yellow cards for a foul on Anatoliy Tymoschuk.

Karim Haggui headed over the bar for Tunisia from a corner from the right with chances at a premium.

But with 20 minutes remaining Haggui brought down Shevchenko after he darted into the box and the Chelsea man stepped up to fire the ball home.

Hatem Trabelsi - Tunisia's brightest star at the finals - worked an opening in the penalty area but dragged his shot across the goal as the African's looked for an equaliser.

At the death Voronin almost made it 2-0 from close range, but Boumnijel denied him, while sub Santos headed wide for Tunisia as time ran out.

Meanwhile Spain ensured they made it through to the last 16 as group winners aver a 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in Kaiserslautern.

Spain began in confident fashion and might have taken an early lead had Raul's header from Antonio Lopez's dangerous cross not gone wide.

The Saudis struggled to break down Spain's second string defence, while at the other end Joaquin saw a powerful shot whistle just over the bar.

But Spain did take the lead on 36 minutes when Gutierrez Juanito headed Spain home from a Jose Antonio Reyes free-kick from the left.

Mohammed Noor should have equalised seconds later but his weak strike proved an easy catch for goalkeeper Santiago Canizares, in what was his first save of the game.

And at the other end Mabrouk Zaid then stood strong to twice deny Reyes and Cesc Fabregas from close range.

Spain continued to miss clear-cut chances, with Andres Iniesta and Reyes failing to find the target from close range.

In the 53rd minute, Zaid was forced to stretch to clear Antonio Lopez's

right-footed effort.

Hussein Sulimani made a great run down the left and Canizares had to be alert to beat away his goal-bound shot.

But Sulimani should have equalised in the 68th minute but his angled strike went inches wide of Canizares' near post.