Today, December 22, in Portugal, the Ukrainian U-15 youth team (football players born no older than 2011) met the hosts in the decisive match of the UEFA Development Tournament.

In the opening match, Volodymyr Samborsky's team beat the Greek team with a score of 3:1, after which they defeated Ireland (1:0). The Portuguese team also approached the face-to-face meeting with the maximum result, having won over Ireland (5:0) and Greece (6:3). Thus, it was in the face-to-face confrontation that the Ukrainians and the Portuguese were to determine the winner of the tournament.

The key moment of the first half came midway through the game, when a penalty was awarded to Ukraine after a VAR review. The blue-and-yellows' goalkeeper Karim Bahriev reacted to the opponent's captain's shot and saved the penalty, keeping the score level. This was the second penalty saved by Ukrainian goalkeepers in the tournament (in the opening match, Oleksandr Varivoda parried a shot by the Greek Privolos).

At the beginning of the second half, the Portuguese had a great chance - the ball hit the crossbar. Ukraine responded with a dangerous moment after a corner kick. The home team had more possession, but the blue-and-yellows were careful in defense and responded with counterattacks.

The regular time ended with a score of 0:0. According to the tournament regulations, in the event of a draw, the teams were to immediately proceed to a series of post-match penalties. The Ukrainian national team converted all five of its shots - Ratsky, Kochura, Ivasyshyn, Lapunov and Vologdin were accurate, while one of the Portuguese shots hit the crossbar.

Thus, having won the penalty shootout with a score of 5:4, Volodymyr Samborsky's team became the winners of the UEFA Development Tournament in Portugal.

UEFA Development Tournament

Portugal (U-15) — Ukraine (U-15) — 0:0, on penalties — 4:5 

In the 20th minute, Portugal did not implement penalty kick (goalkeeper).

Portugal (U-15): Cabesana, Paradela, Parisiu (Aquinho, 72), Salgado (Conte, 61), Gonçalves (M. Souza, 78), Ribeiro (Alves, 72), Mendonça (Deldik, 61), Portugal (k) (Valente, 78), Seka (Oberisiu, 61), Leita (Freidas, 72), Oliveira (Posatori, 78).

Trainer: Joao Santos. 

Ukraine (U-15): Bahriyev, Chmelyov (Dzvonyk, 72), Malyuta (k) (Artyukhovich, 72), Tsebenyak, Lapunov, Vologdin, Nagayets (Kochura, 68), Drozd (Ratsky, 72), Bonyuk (Ivasyshyn, 72), Kozachuk (Babenko, 78), Zamorsky (Cholak, 68).

Trainer: Volodymyr Samborsky.

Forewarned: Mendonsa (37).

The composition of the Ukrainian U-15 national team

Goalkeepers: Oleksandr Varivoda (Shakhtar Donetsk), Karim Bahriev (Dynamo Kyiv), Alexander Simoskov (Barcelona, ​​Spain).

Defenders: Oleksandr Chmelyov, Artur Malyuta, Oleksandr Ivasyshyn (all — Rukh Lviv), Dmytro Tsebenyak (Bayern Munich, Germany), Velizar Artyukhovich, Daniil Lapunov (both — Shakhtar Donetsk), Oleksandr Dzvonyk (Livyi Bereg Kyiv), Artur Babenko (Borussia Monchengladbach, Germany).

Midfielders: Shain Kochura (Rukh Lviv), Ivan Nagayets (Borussia Monchengladbach, Germany), Myroslav Vaskovskyi (Liverpool, England), Mykyta Bonyuk, Arseniy Semenchenko (both — Shakhtar Donetsk), Yevhen Kozachuk (Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih).

Attackers: Oleksandr Vologdin (Espanyol Barcelona, ​​Spain), Nikita Drozd (Nuremberg, Germany), Andriy Cholak (Rukh Lviv), Artem Zamorsky (Livyi Bereg Kyiv).

UEFA Development Tournament

17.12. Greece — Ukraine - 1: 3

17.12. Portugal — Irlaнaction — 5:0

19.12. Ukraine — Ireland — 1:0

19.12. Portugal — Greece - 6: 3

22.12. Portugal — Ukraine — 0:0, on penalties — 4:5 

22.12. Ireland — Greece — 3:1

Standings