Scotland battered in Kiev

Scotland came crashing down to earth with a convincing 2-0 defeat to Ukraine.

Alexander Kucher's scrambled strike and Andrei Shevchenko's last minute penalty ended Scotland's perfect start in Group B, as Walter Smith's side had Steven Pressley sent off at the death.

The result was the Tartan Army's first defeat in 2006 under Smith and boosted Ukraine's standings in the table after just three points from their opening two games.

Smith's side employed the same 5-4-1 formation that served them so well in the 1-0 win against France on Saturday.

Hearts defender Robbie Neilson came into the team for the suspended Christian Dailly, to make his debut for the country.

Lee McCulloch made way for frontman Kenny Miller's return, as James McFadden slotted back into the midfield.

Oleg Blokhin meanwhile welcomed back striker Shevchenko after he missed the weekend's 2-0 defeat to Italy through illness.

There was an instantaneous buzz around the £30 million man whenever he touched the ball and he started brightly. Showing good tight control, the Chelsea ace danced his way into the penalty area before feeding Oleg Gusev, whose strong shot was blocked away from danger by the scrambling Scottish defence.

The game was set up much like the France game with Smith's side conceding large chunks of possession and hoping to nick a goal on the break.

McFadden picked up the game's first booking on nine minutes when he followed through on Maxim Kalinichenko and he will now miss the next match against Georgia.

Darren Fletcher had a great opportunity to play the lively looking Miller in for a tap-in on the break on 13 minutes, but the Manchester United midfielder scuffed his cross allowing the Ukraine defence to get back and waste the best chance of the half.

Shevchenko was dropping deeper to get involved in the game as the Tartan Army frustrated the home team.

Fletcher was harshly cautioned on 20 minutes as he tried to chase down the ball and became the second Scottish player ruled out of the next qualifier.

Captain Barry Ferguson flattened Shevchenko to hand Blokhin's men a free-kick 25 yards out. But the opposition skipper wasted a good opportunity by firing straight into the wall.

Vyacheslav Sviderski's attack and looping left foot cross from the right then found Kalinichenko in the box and his brave header under intense pressure went just over the bar.

Smith's side were looking to get forward in numbers but Miller was forced to feed on scraps as Ukraine dominated possession.

But Ukraine almost made the crucial breakthrough when Kalinichenko's corner from the left led to a scramble in the box, but neither Sviderski or Shevchenko could make solid contact and the ball found its way into the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

Some outstanding play from Miller in the centre circle drew a foul from Alexander Kucher on the half hour, as he picked up Ukraine's first booking of the match.

The home side wasted their second good shooting opportunity when Gary Caldwell cleaned out Andrei Voronin on the edge of the box. But Anatollii Tymoschuk's attempted drive was again well blocked by the wall.

Voronin broke free on 39 minutes, but his touch took him slightly wide. Lacking support, and with a tight angle, he drilled a low shot in at the near post, drawing a smart save from Gordon.

The half passed without any further incident as the Tartan Army continued to frustrate the home side.

Ukraine came out for the second half with a renewed impetus and were unfortunate not to take the lead on 47 minutes.

Sviderski's low cross found Shevchenko in the middle, but he saw his shot partially blocked by Caldwell. But the Chelsea man got to the ball ahead of Gordon and dabbed his shot towards goal, only to be denied by the outside of the left post.

Scotland were unable to get the ball out of their own half and when Andrei Nesmachy hit a terrific strike from the edge of the box, the warning signs were clear. Caldwell blocked the ferocious half volley with his head, but the pressure was relentless.

Sviderski attacked Shevchenko's free-kick cross from the left on the hour mark and the ball broke fortuitously to Alexander Kucher. Kucher swiveled and shot past Gordon to hand Ukraine a deserved 1-0 lead.

Smith's side were not set up to attack and were struggling to gain any sort of foothold in the game.

But they were lifted on 65 minutes when the tireless Miller's cross-shot from the right rebounded off Alexander Shovkovsky's right hand post.

The game seemed to be drifting to its conclusion until a fine cross from Neilson on the right found Miller in acres of space on the edge of the six yard box. But Miller failed to connect fully with the ball and his free header glanced harmlessly wide of the post.

Scotland's night got even worse on 85 minutes when Shevchenko broke away into a one-on-one situation with Pressley. Pressley brought the striker down and was red-carded, despite Caldwell returning in a covering position.

And things continued to deteriorate as Neilson put his arms across the face of Shevchenko in the box. Referee Martin Hansson pointed to the spot, and Shevchenko easily dispatched the penalty to compound Scotland's problems and seal a convincing 2-0 victory for Ukraine.

Ukraine v Scotland player ratings.