Ukraine, powered by the resurgent Andriy Shevchenko, beat Scotland 2-0 in their Euro 2008 qualifier on Wednesday to end the Scots' perfect start to their Group B campaign.

Reeling from a 2-0 defeat to Italy at the weekend with Shevchenko sidelined by a virus, the Ukrainians burst back into the hunt for top spot in the group with the Chelsea striker playing a key role.

Dominant but kept off the scoreboard in the first half, Ukraine opened their account on the hour with defender Oleksandr Kucher poking home from eight metres.

Captain Shevchenko added a penalty in the 90th minute.

Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin said he had had a "complicated discussion" at the interval to inspire his team to victory.

"The main thing is the guys understood that the stadium and the whole country was expecting a victory and they did what they had to in the second half," he told reporters.

"We played well and beat a very good team. We confirmed we have the right to keep fighting to get to Euro 2008."

Scotland captain Steven Pressley was sent off five minutes from time for bringing down a goalbound Shevchenko.

Ukraine have six points from three games after their second win while Scotland remain on nine points after four matches.

France, whom the Scots upset 1-0 on Saturday, were looking to take over at the top when they faced Faroe Islands later on Wednesday.

LUCKY BOUNCE

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.

Shevchenko, who had hit the post two minutes into the second half, converted the late penalty after being brought down by Robbie Neilson in front of Craig Gordon's goal.

Keeper Gordon had prevented Ukraine from taking the lead just before the interval with a fine one-handed save from Andriy Voronin at the near post.

Scotland had only a handful of opportunities. Kenny Miller missed a chance to push home a straightforward header after taking a cross from Darren Fletcher while pressing for an equaliser nine minutes from time.

"We knew the game was going to be difficult but perhaps not quite so difficult. The outcome was logical," said Scotland coach Walter Smith.

"I am of course unhappy at the outcome, but particularly unhappy at the number of yellow and red cards that were called," he told reporters.

Smith, speaking to the BBC about Pressley's sending off, added: "The circumstances were that they (Ukraine) weren't in a goal scoring opportunity ... so it should only have been a yellow card.