Italy's Luca Toni jubilates for his goal against Ukraine during the quarter-final at World Cup 2006 in Hamburg, Germany, June 30, 2006. (Xinhua Photo)

    HAMBURG, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Luca Toni scored twice as Italy breezed past Ukraine 3-0 to reach the semifinals of the World Cup here on Friday.

    The 1.94-meter striker nodded home Francesco Totti's left-wing cross in the 59th minute to make it 2-0 after defender Gianluca Zambrotta had put Italy ahead early in the first half.

    The 29-year-old Fiorentina player killed off the match in the 69th minute with a close-range tap-in, fed by Zambrotta, who cropped up down the Italy left and found his man with a pinpoint cross.

    "We couldn't understand why he hadn't scored until now so it's great news," Italy coach Marcello Lippi said.

    The Azzurri controlled the match from the start and Ukraine, who eliminated Switzerland 3-0 in the second round in a penalty shootout, looked hard to pose any threat.

    Juventus defender Zambrotta opened the scoring with a great strike in the sixth minute. He cut in from the right and lashed in a left-footer from 25 meters and Ukraine goalkeeper Olexandr Shovkovskiy palmed the ball into his bottom left-hand corner.

    Ukraine head coach Oleg Blokhin made some tactical changes after 20 minutes, replacing defender Vyacheslav Sviderskyi with striker Andriy Vorobey and dropping Andriy Gusin at center-half.

    But Italy continued to dominate and give the east Europeans no chance.

    Ukraine got better after the interval and created several good opportunities. In the 49th minute, Maksym Kalinichenko crossed from the left and Andrea Barzagli sliced his clearance wide for a corner.

    One minute later, Andriy Gusin forced a real save from Gianluigi Buffon, who had to tip a header onto the post.

    Ukraine's best chance came in the 58th minute when Ukraine ripped the Italian defense apart but Buffon saved from Oleg Gusev before Zambrotta made an incredible goal line clearance to prevent Kalinichenko from scoring.

    But only one minute later, Italy were 2-0 ahead. Toni killed off the match by scoring from a header first and then adding his second from close range.

    Ukraine captain Andriy Shevchenko, who was isolated most of the match, was denied a penalty kick in the final minutes. The Chelseanew signing played a fine one-two and surged into the box, but after he tumbled in a tussle with Massimo Oddo, referee Frank de Bleeckere waved play on and denied the striker a spot-kick.

    "I am disappointed that we are out but this World Cup has been a great achievement for us," said Ukraine coach Oleh Blokhin.

    Italy will play Germany for a final berth in Dortmund on Tuesday. Enditem

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