Euro-2024 (U-19): Ukraine defeated Latvia in the elite round of qualifying

23.03.2024 16:59

Photo of UAF press service

Today, on March 23, the youth national team of Ukraine (football players not older than 2005) continued playing in the elite round of qualifying for Euro-2024 (U-19).

The blue-yellow team successfully started in the group, beating the hosts of the mini-tournament, the Macedonians, — 2:0. Today in Skopje, our team faced peers from Latvia.

In the first half, the Ukrainians faced serious resistance from their opponents. In the beginning, Ponomarenko made an inaccurate shot, in the 18th minute, Evelons was in a striking position, but Krapyvtsov came to the rescue. The blue-yellow team responded with a new shot by Ponomarenko, which was blocked at the last moment. Subsequently, Sinchuk checked the goalkeeper from the penalty line.

In the 34th minute, our team took the lead - after Matkevych through ball, Ponomarenko moved to the center and hit the bottom left corner of the goal. In the future, Krevsun, Synchuk and Gadzhyev had opportunities to score, and the Latvians had Yamonts' shot on goal.

At the beginning of the second half, Matkevych checked the goalkeeper from a distance. In the 60th minute, Ponomarenko doubled the advantage of the blue-yellow team, realizing a penalty, which he earned himself. At the end of the match, the Latvians could reduce the gap, but our team was saved by the post. Then Tutierov could score but did not convert the one on one duel with the goalkeeper.

In the 89th minute, Tutierov took advantage of a through ball from Vashchenko, entered the penalty area, and scored the third goal of the Ukrainian national team. So Dmytro Mykhaylenko's wards celebrated the victory - 3:0. Our boys will play the final match of the elite round on March 26 against Switzerland. A draw will be enough for the Ukrainians to get the first place in the group and a ticket to the Euro.

Euro-2024 (U-19). Elite round of qualifying. Group 7

20.03.2024

Switzerland — Latvia — 1:0

North Macedonia - Ukraine - 0: 2

23.03.2024

Ukraine (U-19) - LatviaU-19) - 3: 0 (1: 0)

Goals: Ponomarenko (34, 60, from the penalty), Tutierov (89).

Ukraine (U-19): Krapyvtsov, Husiev, Melnychenko, Yermachkov, Drozd (Stryukov, 90), Krevsun (Shevchenko, 90), Vashchenko, Gadzhyev (Tsukanov, 67), Synchuk, Ponomarenko (Dubrovnyi, 74), Matkevych (Tutierov, 67).

Latvia (U-19): Chevers, Tikhonovics, Pours, Smirnovs, Liepins (Lormanis, 84), Kangars (Valutadatils, 67), Yesse, Yamonts, Grabovskis (Barkovskis, 84), Bocs (Ivulans, 61), Evelons (Mezhsargs, 61).

Booked: Drozd (38), Krevsun (57), Yermachkov (85), Dubrovnyi (87) — Kangars (29), Yesse (55).

Switzerland — North Macedonia — 2:0 (1:0)

Standings

26.03.2024

Ukraine — Switzerland (15:00)

Latvia - North Macedonia (15:00)

The kick off is Kyiv time. 

Elite round draw splitted 28 teams in seven groups, the matches of which will be held in March. The winners of the Elite Round groups will join the hosts, Northern Ireland, in the final stage, which will take place from 15 to 28 July 2024 and will be UEFA's selection for the 2025 World Cup (U-20).

Euro 2024 (U-19). Elite round

Group 1: Spain, Austria, Kosovo, Slovenia.

Group 2: The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Lithuania.

Group 3: Norway, Israel, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro.

Group 4: Portugal, Denmark, Serbia, Greece.

Group 5: Scotland, the Czech Republic, Georgia, Italy.

Group 6: Turkey, Germany, Croatia, Romania.

Group 7: Switzerland, Ukraine, North Macedonia, Latvia.

We will remind, the Ukrainians under the leadership of Oleg Kuznetsov took it first place in their qualifying round group.