The Cerebral Palsy World Championships continued on Thursday with three more games, as the second round of fixtures got under way.
Due to the late withdrawal of their matchday one opponents Iran, the only team not to feature so far were Ukraine.
But they entered the tournament with aplomb and recorded a stunning 16-0 victory against Japan.
CP World Championships
Day two
Australia 1-4 Rep Ireland
Russia 9-0 Portugal
Ukraine 16-0 Japan
Captain Vlodomyr Antoniuk led way for the European champions with eight goals.
Artem Krasylynykov and Vitalli Romanchuk notched four and three goals respectively.
Artem Sheremet added the other got the other to complete the rout.
Despite outscoring England’s victory over the same opponents by two goals, they go into Saturday’s top-spot decider on level pegging due to a tournament rule that stipulates goal difference advantage from any one game is capped at +10.
Ireland celebrate after scoring against Australia
World champions Russia also made light work of their afternoon as they fired nine past Portugal without reply.
Goals from Aslanbek Sapiev (2) Alexander Kuligin, Eduard Ramonov, Georgiy Albegov, Alexey Chesmin, Alexei Borkin, Ivan Potekhin and Zaurbek Pagaev secured a second successive victory for Avtandil Baramidze’s side.
The result also condemned Portugal to a second defeat.
A result that meant quarter-final qualification is now beyond them.
Irish eyes were smiling at St. George's Park after the boys in green beat Australia
The day’s other fixture was between Australia and the Republic of Ireland.
It was a game between the two sides most likely to be vying for second spot in Group B, behind runaway leaders Russia.
Australia went with the same starting seven that helped them to a 2-0 opening day victory against Portugal – but they were unable to pull off the same feat against Ireland, who ran out 4-1 winners.
Russia continued their march through the group stage with a comfortable win against Portugal
Dillon Sheridan grabbed a brace, while Gary Messett and substitute Eric O’Flaherty chipped in with the other two.
Australia gave themselves a glimmer of hope when, with the score at 2-0, David Barber stepped up to pull one back from the spot.
But it was not to be, and they go into a final fixture against Russia needing a result – and a favour from Portugal when they take on Ireland.
