Shevchenko helps end Scotland run

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KIEV, Ukraine -- Andriy Shevchenko marked his return with a goal as Ukraine triumphed 2-0 in their Euro 2008 qualifier in Kiev on Wednesday to end Scotland's perfect start to their Group B campaign.

Defender Oleksandr Kucher scored from eight meters on the hour and captain Shevchenko added a penalty in the final minute after Scots has captain Steve Pressley red-carded.

Italy put their campaign back on track with a 3-1 win in Georgia while France joined Scotland at the top of the group with a 5-0 win over the Faroe Islands.

World champions Italy had struggled to break down an inspired Georgian defense until Jaba Kankava was sent off by English referee Mike Riley 15 minutes after halftime for a second yellow card.

Juventus midfielder Mauro Camoranesi headed the visitors into a 2-1 lead within a minute of the dismissal after a fine cross from Antonio Di Natale and Simone Perrota added a third from close range shortly afterwards.

Daniele De Rossi had opened the scoring in the 16th minute when his low drive from 25 meters completely fooled Georgia keeper Giorgi Lomaia.

Giorgi Shashiashvili equalizd for the home side eight minutes later, beating Gianluigi Buffon with a great curving shot into the top corner from just inside the penalty box.

After a slow start when they managed only one point from their opening two games in Group B, the Italians now have seven points from four following a 2-0 victory over Ukraine last Saturday.

Scotland's Pressley was sent off five minutes from time for bringing down a goalbound Shevchenko, who had hit the post in the first half.

Smith upset

Scotland manager Walter Smith was upset his side had lost their 100 percent record in the group but admitted Ukraine probably deserved their victory.

"We are disappointed to lose but we rode our luck a bit when they hit the post and then had another opportunity," said Smith.

"After that I thought we had got over the worst of it but then they scored and we missed our best chance of the match.

"The players cannot be faulted as they again gave everything they had. Sometimes circumstances go for you but tonight they went against us."

The home side went in front when the ball took a lucky bounce off a defender and then hit Vyacheslav Sviderski in the box before running through for Kucher to poke home.

With two minutes remaining, Shevchenko converted the penalty after being brought down by Robbie Neilson in front of Craig Gordon's goal.

Substitute David Trezeguet scored twice as France beat the Faeroe Islands 5-0.

Fellow strikers Louis Saha, Nicolas Anelka and Thierry Henry also scored as France bounced back from Saturday's 1-0 loss to Scotland.

France and Scotland have nine points in Group B from four matches. Italy is third with seven.

Les Bleus wasted many chances against a team 177 places below it in FIFA rankings.

Saha's goal after 36 seconds was the second fastest in France's history, two seconds slower than Franck Sauzee in 1991 against Albania in a European qualifier.

Henry has 38 international goals, within three of Michel Platini's French record. Trezeguet is third with 34.

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