PSG flounder as Kiev reach UEFA Cup semi-finals

Dynamo Kiev roared into the UEFA Cup semi-finals on Thursday, swamping a poor Paris Saint Germain 3-0 after a goalless draw in France in the first encounter.

PSG goalkeeper Mickael Landreau handed the Ukrainians victory with two glaring errors which led to two of the goals.

Shakhtar Donetsk were hoping to inflict more Ukrainian punishment on French opposition as they were later hoping to defend a 2-0 first match lead against former champions Marseille.

Another side to have lifted the European Cup in their heyday, Germany’s Hamburg, were also two goals to the good, in their case by 3-1, as they prepared to face English Premiership side Manchester City.

In the remaining match, Germany’s Werder Bremen, conquerors of AC Milan, were 3-1 up ahead of the away return at Italy’s Udinese.

Eastern Europe is coming up impressively on the rails with Kiev reaching the last four and Russian outfit Zenit St Petersburg having lifted last season’s UEFA Cup.

In contrast, the competition has shown up the glaring gulf between the cream of the far more lucrative Champions League and the rest, and PSG, who enjoyed runs to the semis in the latter tournament on several occasions in the 1990s, demonstrated as much with their limp showing.

Guinean international Ismael Bangoura opened the scoring after just four minutes as the French were caught cold and although Peguy Luyindula headed against the woodwork at the other end it was 2-0 on 16 minutes.

Marcos Ceara headed Olexandr Aliyev’s cross up into the air and Landreau fluffed his attempted two-fisted punch to send the ball spinning into the net.

Guillaume Hoarau should have claimed a goal for the visitors ten minutes before the break but headed wide from Stephane Sessegnon’s cross.

Dynamo, who reached the semis of the Champions League a decade ago, then wrapped things up when Landreau spilled an Aliyev free-kick to allow Ognjen Vukojevic to net the rebound and make Kiev the first Ukrainian team to reach the semis and leave Paul Le Guen’s Parisians shell-shocked.