Euro 2020. Eight steps of Ukraine to the final tournament: the devastating defeat of Serbia in Lviv

01.05.2020 15:04

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

In the third match of the 2020 European Championship qualifying tournament, which was officially postponed to 2021, the Ukrainian national team in Lviv literally destroyed Serbia.

... Closer to the middle of the first half, the guests established control of the ball, but the clear actions of the blue and yellows in defense did not allow potentially dangerous situations at the goal of Pyatov to become really fatal. But the hosts, showing a clear structure of the game in attack, built their offensive combinations and regularly approached the possessions of Dmitrovich - and eventually achieved their goal.

Malinowski passed to Karavaev, the defender went forward with the ball and shot into the center of the penalty area, where Tsygankov ran. Victor's blow from below was irresistible. 1: 0. Less than two minutes later, Yaremchuk took the ball in the center of the field from Kolarov and made an excellent pass to Tsygankov, who hit the far top corner from outside the penalty area. 2: 0. 

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

The start of the second half gave the hosts even more optimism. Again the middle line of blue-yellows worked fine: Malinovskyi ran with the ball and gave it to Konoplyanka, and Yevhen delivered his firm shot from outside the penalty area into the far corner, making the score 3-0.

The game was already done, the opponent looked lost, so Ukrainians continued to weave their combinations. And, as a result, Yaremchuk scored his first goal for the national team, punching well in the touch after Karavaev's wing shot. And then the second goal was scored by Konoplyanka, who was sent to a counterattack by a Malinovskyi's pass from his own half. After the score was 5-0, the stadium held a long, well deserved ovation to the head coach of the national team of Ukraine Andrii Shevchenko.

Ukraine - Serbia - 5: 0 (2: 0)

Goals: Tsyhankov (26, 28), Konoplyanka (46, 75), Yaremchuk (59).

Ukraine: Pyatov (k), Mykolenko, Matviyenko, Kryvtsov, Karavayev, Stepanenko (Shepelyev, 72), Zinchenko, Malinovskyi, Konoplyanka (Kovalenko, 76), Tsyhankov, Yaremchuk (A. Kravets, 67). Substitutions: Pankov, Lunin, Butko, Sobol, Burda, Bezus, Besedin, Plastun, Swede.

Serbia: Dmitrovic, Milenkovic, Spajic, Kolarov (k), Gacinovic, Ljajic (Feis, 60), Tadic, Maksimovic, Kostic, Jovic (Lazovic, 72), Prijovic (A. Mitrovic, 53). Substitutions: Raykovich, Vasilevich, Rukavina, Miletic, Zivkovich, S. Mitrovich, Katai, Radonich, Lukich.

Referee: Antonio Matteo Laos (Spain). Booked: Milenkovic (22), Spajic (32).

June 7, 2019. Lviv. Arena Lviv Stadium. 34 spectators.

After the match

Andrii Shevchenko (head coach of the national team of Ukraine): "The turning point today was when we managed to realize our potential. Then we had the advantage in the score, the Serbs were forced to open zones. The score is big, but it doesn't matter, victory was important for us. Yes, we had a good match. But the Serbs have a great team, and we will have a difficult away game. Now there are no weak teams left in Europe. If you lose five to seven percent of your form, it will be very difficult. "

Yevhen Konoplyanka (Ukraine midfielder): "Emotions are overflowing, I can't convey them in words. We followed the game plan chosen by our coaches. We felt each other, we understood that if someone falls on the field, we need to get up. Here, as in dancing, it was necessary to feel a partner. "

Viktor Tsygankov (Ukraine midfielder): "Playing at such a stadium is a pleasure. Thanks to our fans. I hope the whole country liked how we played and achieved such a decent result. I congratulate all of Ukraine on this victory. "

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