U-20: Ukraine's Second Team Draw before the start of the World Cup

18.05.2019 22:48

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

In preparation for the 2019 World Cup (U-20), which will be held in Poland from May 23 to June 15, the youth national team of Ukraine held a friendly match against the South African team in Kyiv.

For Oleksandr Petrakov's wards, sparring against South Africans became the second and last on the eve of leaving for the World Cup in Poland, where the Ukrainians will face the national teams of the United States, Qatar and Nigeria. Prior to that, on May 14, the blue-and-yellows played a control game against Kovalev's Kolos, which ended in a draw. - 1:1.  

In a friendly match against the South African team, the Ukrainians could design their match against Nigeria, which they will meet at the World Cup on May 30.

Alexander Petrakov included 20 players in the application for the game with South Africa. Unfortunately, Dynamo Kyiv defender Vitaliy Mykolenko will not be able to play in Poland. Due to an injury to the back of the thigh, he was forced to miss the World Cup. Instead, the coaching staff of our team invited Kalush defender Oleh Veremienko. In addition, Leganes goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, whose team played in the Spanish championship against Huesca today, will join the national team in Poland.

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

The match, which took place at the STC. V. Bannikov, both teams started at a brisk pace, as a result of which already in the debut one of the players of the South African national team left the field due to injury. Ukrainians in the first half created more danger at the opponent's goal. Georgy Tsitaishvili, who had the opportunity to score, was especially active. A little luck in one of the episodes was not enough and Supryaz.

After the break, the hosts made several substitutions, and while they were rebuilding, the guests earned a penalty. However, the hero of the episode was the goalkeeper of "Dynamo" Vladislav Kucheruk, who parried the 11-meter.

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

Six minutes later, the Ukrainians took the lead. They did not lose their chance from the penalty spot. South African players broke the rules in the penalty area against Tsitaishvili, and Kornienko was accurate. 1: 0.

However, the blue and yellows failed to maintain their advantage. The opponent added in speed and in the 66th minute made them make a mistake. After that, the South Africans dangerously attacked the home team's goal several more times, but Kucheruk saved his partners. In the end - 1: 1.  

We will remind that on May 20 at 12.45 blue-yellows will take a course to Krakow. Then they will move to the city of Bielsko-Biala, where they will play their first match of the group tournament - against the US team (May 24). On May 27, the Ukrainians will meet the national team of Qatar, and on the 30th their opponent will be Nigeria. The first two teams will reach the 1/8 finals each of the six groups and the top four national teams that take third place. 

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

Friendly Match

Ukraine (U-20) - South Africa (U-20) - 1: 1 (0: 0)

Goals: Kornienko (53, from the penalty spot) - Kodisang (66).

Ukraine: Butcher (Kucheruk, 46), Bondar, Popov, Tsitaishvili (Kashchuk, 63), Khokhlyov (Dryslyuk, 73), Kornienko, Buletsa (Sikan, 63), Spouse (Ustimenko, 63), Fertile (Snurnicin, 46), Hemp (Safronov, 46), Musolitin (Czech, 46).

STEAM: Kubek, Phewa (Blom, 80), Abrahams (Gsaba, 80), Leshabela (Appolis, 70), Mkhum, Mkhiz, Modiz, Phillips, Monyan (Tethany, 9), Coupe, Foster (Kodisang, 65).