Veteran star Shevchenko gives his farewell tournament great start with 2 goals against Sweden

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Ukraine\'s Andriy Shevchenko celebrates after he scored his team\'s second goal during the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group D match between Ukraine and Sweden in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

KIEV, Ukraine – As soon as Andriy Shevchenko had scored his second goal of the evening, he knew who he had to thank.

While fans shouted “Sheva, Sheva,” the Ukraine veteran striker sprinted to the sideline and embraced his coach Oleg Blokhin, who decided against the odds to play Shevchenko from the start in the co-host’s European Championship match against Sweden on Monday.

Blokhin kept his confidence in Shevchenko even after he missed Ukraine’s best first-half chance. The reward came early in the second half with two great headers to give Ukraine a 2-1 victory.

The goals earned Ukraine an unexpected upbeat start to their home event — Shevchenko’s last in the national yellow-blue dress.

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Abbey Westbury

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