Liverpool duo hand Dutch win over Ukraine

Liverpool pair Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel were both on target as the Netherlands beat Ukraine 3-0 in a Euro 2008 warm-up match here on Saturday.

The Dutch shrugged off the absence of injured Robin van Persie and Mario Melchiot, as well as rested Real Madrid stars Ruud van Nistelrooy and Arjen Robben, to score an important win ahead of the finals where they have been drawn against world champions Italy, France and Romania.

Marco van Basten's side were also without goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar who will not join up with the squad until Monday following his Champions League penalty shoot-out heroics with Manchester United in Moscow last week.

The Ukrainians mounted little in the way of a challenge and the Dutch were deservedly in front after 24 minutes when Kuyt headed in a cross from Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

In the 37th minute, Klas-Jan Huntelaar was set-up by Rafael Van der Vaart to score his seventh goal in 12 internationals to make it 2-0.

Van der Vart was also influential in the creation of the third goal, supplying the crucial pass for Babel to score in the 64th minute.

The Netherlands will face Denmark in Eindhoven on Thursday before facing Wales in their last warm-up here next Sunday.