Football friendly: Dutch held to 1-1 draw

Donetsk, Ukraine: An inexperienced Netherlands team was held to a 1-1 draw by Ukraine on Wednesday in an international friendly, its first match since losing to Spain in the World Cup final last month.

The Netherlands took the lead when Theo Janssen's shot from 30 metres beat Pyatov and struck the crossbar. The ball fell to Jeremain Lens and the debutant slotted it into an empty net, with the goalkeeper stranded, in the 73rd minute.

Ukraine struck back a minute later when midfielder Oleksandr Aliev smashed a free kick inside goalkeeper Michel Vorm's right-hand post from 30 metres out.

Janssen had a chance to win it for the Netherlands in stoppage time with a free kick from just outside the box but he blasted his shot just wide.

Having rested his World Cup players, Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk also gave debuts to Jeffrey Bruma, Siem de Jong and Ricky van Wolfswinkel. Vorm was the only player in the current squad that also went to South Africa.

Ukraine, which fielded a strong side captained by Andriy Shevchenko, had plenty of possession but the Netherlands' defense was organised.

Shevchenko created space by beating a defender in the 21st minute but he fired a shot narrowly wide from just inside the area.

The first half was largely played out in the middle of the pitch as both sides struggled to make space and create chances.

The Netherlands' best opportunity came in the 33rd minute, when a free kick was punted into the box and Ukraine midfielder Anatoliy Tymoshchuk miskicked under no pressure. The ball bounced up for De Jong but goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov blocked his shot at point-blank range and the ball was cleared.

The second half started more brightly. Lens cut into the box from the right in the 49th minute and hit a left-footed shot that was well saved by Pyatov.

The hosts answered immediately, with Tymoshchuk forcing a diving save from Vorm with a powerful drive from 30 meters.

Ukraine began to enjoy a spell of pressure and Aliev drove another shot at goal in the 61st but it was saved by Vorm diving to his right.

A minute later, Oleksandr Romanchuk burst between two defenders and into the box but could only push a weak left-footed shot straight at the goalkeeper.