England's John Terry clears a ball that went over the line during the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group D match between England and Ukraine in Donetsk, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
June 19, 2012 - 5:21 PM
DONETSK, Ukraine - Wayne Rooney scored the only goal that counted Tuesday, giving England a 1-0 win over Ukraine and a spot in the European Championship quarterfinals.
Ukraine thought they had equalized in the 62nd minute when Marko Devic's looping shot appeared to cross the line before it was hooked clear by John Terry. But the goal was not awarded by the referee or his extra assistant behind the goal.
The controversy will likely add to the pressure on UEFA President Michel Platini to reverse his opposition to goal-line technology.
"I was sad because the ball was in the goal by one meter," Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin said.
Rooney, who sat out his team's first two matches at Euro 2012, returned from suspension Tuesday and headed in the lone goal in the 48th. Steven Gerrard whipped a dangerous cross into the penalty area that went past two defenders before Pyatov let it slip through his hands as he crouched to collect the ball. Rooney was primed at the far post and put England ahead.
It was Rooney's first goal at a major tournament since scoring four at Euro 2004 as an 18-year-old kid. He failed to find the net at both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.
With the victory, England won Group D and will next face Italy in Kyiv on Sunday. France also advanced, despite losing to Sweden 2-0 in the other group match. Ukraine, however, will have to watch the rest of the tournament as spectators, just like co-host Poland.
Ukraine had never won at the Donbass Arena on four previous occasions, and failed to seize on its dominance when it mattered most.
With their fans dominating the crowd and captain Andriy Shevchenko on the bench at the start due to a left knee injury, the Ukrainians were in control from the outset, far more confident on the ball and containing England inside its own half.
But early efforts were from distance, with Denys Garmash and Yaroslav Rakitskiy striking over, while England midfielder Scott Parker had to throw his body into the path of Devic's low shot.
They were getting closer, though, and looking more even menacing going forward with Oleh Gusev getting into the penalty area and sending in a shot that just creep over Joe Hart's goal.
Before Rooney scored, England came close to testing Pyatov when Ashley Young sent in a low cross that was easily dealt with in the 11th minute.
As Ukraine attacked the England goal, Rooney was quiet in the first half of his first competitive match in more than a month until he sent a free header wide in the 28th from Young's cross.
News from © The Associated Press, 2012