Women's Euro-2022. Ukraine defeat Greece and keep up fighting for a ticket to the final tournament

22.09.2020 22:58

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

In the next Euro-2022 qualifying match, the women's national team of Ukraine defeated the team of Greece at home.

After a successful trip to Montenegro, where the blue and yellows won the first points in the qualifying, our team returned home. In the fifth qualifying match of the European Championship, the Ukrainians hosted Greece at the Obolon Arena in Kyiv.

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

The opponents spent the first half on equal terms, and Greece managed to start the match better. In particular, Chatzinikolaou's dangerous header made Samson keeping concentrated from the very opening moments. The hosts responded with several shots past the goal, and in the 15th minute they lost the best chance, when Malakhova hit the post in a one-to-one challenge against goalkeeper. Then, until the end of the first 45 minutes, it should be noted Samson's save after Mitka's shot, as well as a free kick from Apanashchenko in the hands of the opponent's goalkeeper.

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

During the break, Natalia Zinchenko replaced Malakhov with Kozlova, which turned out to be an appropriate coaching move. It was the legionnaire of the Ukrainian national team from the American "Virginia Tech" who brought our team the much-needed victory. At first, in the 58th minute, the Greek goalkeeper could not cope with a shot by Khimich and threw the ball right at the foot of Kozlova, who had to hit the empty net. Later, Ovdiychuk made a great pass and did not realize the way out on her own, but Boychenko managed to pass at the second pace exactly on the head of Kozlova, and she increased the handicap of Ukrainian women.

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

Despite the comfortable advantage, the housewives continued to create moments. In the 88th minute, the blue and yellows managed to bring the case to defeat - Kravets closed the header Andrushchak from the corner. And already in the time compensated by the referee Apanashchenko established the final account, closing Kunina's transfer from the right flank.

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

After defeating the Greeks, Ukraine came in third place in the group. Now Nataliya Zinchenko's team is waiting for matches with Ireland at home and Greece away, which will take place in late October. To continue the fight for a ticket to the Euro, Ukrainian team will be satisfied only with victories.

EC-2022 among women's national teams. Qualifying tournament. Group I

22.09.2020

Ukraine - Greece — 4: 0 (0: 0)

Goals: Kozlova (58, 71), Kravets (88), Apanashchenko (90 + 5).

Ukraine: Samson, Filenko (Petryk, 75), Kravets, Shmatko, Basanska, Andrushchak, Khimich, Boychenko, Apanashchenko (k), Malakhova (Kozlova, 46), Ovdiychuk (Kunina, 83).

Greece: Papaconstantin, Gatsu, Hadiannida (k), Sidir, Mitka, Moraita (Vardali, 78), Kakabuki, Marku, Konguli, Khadinikolaou (Caldarida, 84), Sarri (Kokoviada, 69).

Referee: A. Česen (Slovenia).

Warning: Gatsu (34).

September 22. Kyiv Obolon-Arena Stadium.

Montenegro — Germany — 0: 3 (0: 2)

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

Group standings I

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

Matches remaining in the Euro-2022 qualification in Group I.

22.10.2020/XNUMX/XNUMX Greece - Montenegro

23.10.2020         Ukraine - Ireland

27.10.2020/XNUMX/XNUMX Greece - Ukraine

28.11.2020/XNUMX/XNUMX Germany - Greece

01.12.2020         Ukraine - Montenegro

01.12.2020/XNUMX/XNUMX Ireland - Germany

Of the 47 teams participating in the Euro qualifiers, 15 will reach the decisive stage. Nine winners of the selected groups and the top three second teams will join England as the host of the European Championship. Six more second-placed teams in their groups will play in the last three matches in playoffs. These matches will take place on April 5-13, 2021.

It will be recalled that on April 23, the UEFA Executive Committee decided on postponement of the final part of the European Championship among the national women's national teams. Thus, the Euro in England will be held from 6 to 31 July 2022.

The change of the dates of the tournament is connected with the postponement of the European Men's Championship and the Olympics due to the coronavirus pandemic from 2020 to 2021. Due to this, the dates of the tournaments will not coincide.