After the victory over Slovakia, Ukraine's national team has the highest score in the League of Nations!

09.09.2018 19:53

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

The second match in the League of Nations also ended the national team of Ukraine with a victory, confidently topping the standings of her group.

The starting lineup is blue and yellow compared to victory in the Czech Republic there was only one substitution - instead of Kryvtsov, Burda took a position in the center of defense next to Rakitsky.

Despite the empty stands (the match was held without spectators according to the decision of the UEFA disciplinary body), the hosts felt the support of their fans, because the voice of the fan zone, located near the "Arena Lviv", reached even the bowl of the stadium.

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

After a successful start in the League of Nations, Andriy Shevchenko's team raised the bar on its own, but it turned out to be difficult to issue a second such bright match as in the Czech Republic in three days. The blue and yellows tried to act as the number one, meeting the opponent high. But if the Slovaks managed to overcome the pressure of the Ukrainians, their attacks posed a certain threat. The most significant moment was in the middle of the first half, when the powerful German forward won the fight against Burda and scored with his head, but did not hit. And at the end of the 45th minute, Weiss struck from the fly - much higher than the crossbar.

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

However, the hosts attacked much more often, but they managed to threaten the possession of Dubravka mostly from a long distance. However, the ball flew past the goal after the shots of Stepanenko, Rakitsky and Malinovsky. Yaremchuk once resigned from the care of defenders and fired from a sharp angle, but in that episode the Slovak goalkeeper appeared on the spot.

In the second half in the penalty area the guests often got hot - mostly after flank passes. But closer to the end of the match, the fresher condition of the Slovaks began to show, who had the opportunity to purposefully prepare for the meeting.

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

Replacements begged, and they, as in the match with the Czech Republic, played by Andrey Shevchenko were successful. Tsigankov, who had just entered the game, forced Skrinjar to break the rules in the penalty area. The 11-meter was realized by Yarmolenko.

The last minutes seemed tense. Yarmolenko had the opportunity to consolidate the advantage of blue and yellow, however, the owners also had to worry. But the game ended with minimal victory for Ukraine.

League B. Group 1

Ukraine - Slovakia - 1: 0 (0: 0)    

Goal: Yarmolenko (80, penalty kick).

Ukraine: Pyatov (k), Matvienko, Rakitsky, Burda, Karavaev, Stepanenko (Sidorchuk, 86), Malinovsky (Zinchenko, 71), Konoplyanka (Tsygankov, 78), Marlos, Yarmolenko, Yaremchuk.

Substitutions: Boyko, Lunin, V. Kravets, Krivtsov, Tsurikov, Danchenko, Buyalsky, Makarenko, Seleznev.

Trainer: Andrii Shevchenko.

Slovakia: Dubravka, Shatka, Skrtel (k), Skrinjar, Gubochan, Kutzka (Gregus, 78), Lobotka, Mak, Gamshik, Weiss (Rusnak, 70), German (Duda, 65).

Substitutions: Cossack, Shulla, Valent, Diomber, Pachinda, Groszowski, Mazan, Szabo, Duris.

Trainer: Jan Kozak.

Referee: Anastasios Sidiropoulos (Greece).

Booked: Konoplyanka (64) - Gubochan (16), Duda (74).

September 9. Lviv. Arena Lviv Stadium.

Standings

The next match in the League of Nations will be played on October 16 in Kharkiv against the Czech team (starting at 21.45 pm).