COLOGNE, Germany (AP) - Ukraine made the quarterfinals in its first World Cup by blanking Switzerland for 120 minutes Monday night, then shutting out the Swiss in a shootout 3-0.
Goalkeeper Oleksandr Shovkovskyi didn't have to work very hard all night, especially in the shootout. Two Swiss misses were right at him, the other went off the crossbar.
Meanwhile, Artem Milevskiy, Serhiy Rebrov and Oleg Gusev hit the net after Ukraine star Andriy Shevchenko's weak, low shot was stopped by Switzerland's Pascal Zuberbuehler.
The Ukrainians mobbed each other in a pile after the win, which put them in a match Friday against Italy at Hamburg.
The Swiss, who did not yield a goal in the entire tournament until the shootout, stood stunned at their lack of marksmanship from the penalty spot in the first shootout of the tournament.
Both teams are considered outsiders at the World Cup, and if Ukraine can't find a semblance of offense in the quarterfinals, it's unlikely to stick around.
It was a tame game, particularly in comparison to the other quarterfinals. There was only one yellow card in a tournament that has set a record for yellows and for ejections.
Ukraine coach Oleh Blokhin chose to start the shootout with his top scorer, but Shevchenko's shot was poor. Even worse was Marco Streller's effort low but directly at Shovkovskyi.
And after Milevskiy scored, Tranquillo Barnetta hit the crossbar. Rebrov made it 2-0 and Ricardo Cabanas looked almost amateurish on his shot directly into the middle of the goal _ and right at Shovkovskyi.
Then Gusev powered his winner into the left side of the net.
Each team came close to scoring in the first half, hitting the crossbar.
In the 21st minute, Shevchenko dived to head the ball from 8 yards. The ball bounced down to the ground and up onto the crossbar before being cleared.
Three minutes later, Switzerland's Alexander Frei shot from 20 yards and the ball bounced off the bar.
In the 34th, Switzerland's Johan Djourou, who started for injured defender Philippe Senderos, was himself taken off. Djourou was replaced by Stephane Grichting.
Shevchenko also got close in the 68th, chesting the ball, then dribbling to get through the Swiss defense before discharging a powerful left-footed shot from the edge of the area. It narrowly missed the right post.
In another close call, Swiss Ludovic Magnin sent a free kick onto the roof of the net in the 73rd minute.
Mexican referee Benito Archundia gave the only yellow to Barnetta in the 59th minute for a push from behind.