The Ukrainian national team completed their appearance in the group stage of the League of Nations defeat by Slovakia

17.11.2018 01:39

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

The main task in the group of the League of Nations team Andrey Shevchenko completed in advance. Thanks to three wins in their first three group stage matches, the Blue and Yellows have secured themselves the top spot in the quartet and a pass to Division A in the next draw.

But how said the day before the head coach of the Ukrainians, his team in Trnava had to strive for maximum results for the sake of their fans and their own confidence. However, finishing in a group tournament did not have the best composition. Yarmolenko and Marlos, whose absence was known in advance, added another loss on game day. Roman Yaremchuk left, and the old problem of the national team with the forwards again exacerbated.

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

Debuts are scheduled and forced

But this situation has given a chance to prove itself to young people, which in the team of the current convocation more than ever lately. Finally, in the starting lineup of guests on the field of the stadium. Anton Malatynsky has one absolute debutant - Andriy Boryachuk, who had to fill the vacancy of the striker. Another innovation was the appearance among the first 11 goalkeepers Denis Boyko. Andriy Pyatov, who had always defended the national team's goal in 49 matches in a row in official tournaments, remained in reserve.

It seemed that from the starting minutes the national team of Ukraine established control of the ball, but the Slovaks managed to score a quick goal. Burda failed to enter the selection, breaking the rules, and Rusnak after drawing the "standard", receiving a pass from Gamshik near the corner of the penalty area, with a ricochet beat Boyko. In five minutes, Hamshyk himself forgave the Ukrainians without hitting the goal from close range.

Trouble does not come alone…

At the beginning of the meeting, the guests made another debut. Kryvtsov, who was injured, was replaced by Plastun. But the loss of the leading defender was not the last trouble of the blue-yellows in the first half. Boyko failed to cope with a simple blow of Kucka, and the score in favor of the hosts doubled. In addition, in the absence of two main creators, the Ukrainians did not manage to create sharpness in the attack, and another leader of the offensive line, Konoplyanka, got lost in a new position (Eugene acted mostly closer to the center, freeing his left flank for Zinchenko).

As a result, the blue-yellows created the first nominal danger at the gates of the Slovaks only in the time compensated before the first half. Malinowski tried to discharge his famous cannon from afar, but this time the shot was not threatening.

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

Hope faded soon enough

The beginning of the second half gave hope that the scenario of the game could change. The quick attack of the Ukrainians ended with Konoplyanka's accurate touch after Karavayev's flank pass. But soon the guests sat down deeply again during the attack of the Slovaks, and Zrelyak scored the third goal in the fifth with a goal by Boyko, using a shot by Rusnak.

The same Konoplyanka had a great chance to reduce the gap in the score again, but did not use the opportunity after Boryachuk and one defender, and immediately the Slovaks beat Boyko again. Mack scored a goal from outside the penalty area.

In the final minutes, the national team of Ukraine carried out many attacks, which ended in blows, but they lacked accuracy. The hosts, who needed the victory more, achieved it, and by and large. Andriy Shevchenko's team's series of nine matches was unbeaten. Fortunately, it happened in a match that was of no particular tournament significance to her.

League B. Group 1

Slovakia - Ukraine - 4: 1 (2:0)

Goals: Rusnak (6), Kutska (26), Zrelyak (52), Mak (61) - Konoplyanka (47).

Slovakia: Dubravka, Pekarik, Skrtel (k), Skrynyar, Gantsko, Gregus, Rusnak, Kutska (Bero, 30), Gamshik, Mak (Stoch, 69), Zrelyak (Duris, 82).

Substitutions: Cossack, Rodak, Wavro, Weiss, Duda, German, Groszowski, Szabo.

Trainer: Paul Gapal.

Ukraine: Boyko, Karavayev, Burda, Krivtsov (Plastun, 14), Matvienko, Zinchenko, Stepanenko, Malinovsky, Konoplyanka (k) (Shaparenko, 65), Tsygankov, Boryachuk (Kovalenko, 62).

Substitutions: Pyatov, Lunin, Bolbat, Petryak, Shved, Buyalsky, Mykolenko, Makarenko.

Trainer: Andrii Shevchenko.

Referee: Nikola Dabanovic (Montenegro).

Booked: Gregush (49) - Burda (22), Stepanenko (87), Plastun (90).

November 16. Trnava. Stadium them. Anton Malatynsky.

Standings

19.11.2018

Czech Republic - Slovakia (21.45)