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LARNACA, Cyprus (AP) — On a night that gave a small contingent of Ukrainian fans an opportunity to wave their flags and unite amid a political crisis back home, their national soccer team eased past the United States 2-0 Wednesday in an exhibition game shifted from Kharkiv to a Mediterranean island nation 600 miles to the south.
Andriy Yarmolenko scored in the 12th minute and Marco Devic in the 68th as Ukraine exposed the shaky American central defense of Oguchi Onyewu and Anthony Brooks.
Ukraine's players linked arms on shoulders during their national anthem of their nation, which has been disrupted by political protests followed by Russia's military intervention. Players in both starting lineups bowed their heads as they stood on the field before the game for a moment of silence for the victims of violence in Ukraine.
The crowd at Papadopoulos Stadium, which has a capacity of about 10.000, was so small that players could be heard talking with each other during the game. Ukrainian fans sang their nation's anthem in the final moments.
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