Ukraine's national football team secures gritty win against Slovakia in Euro-2024 second round
The Ukrainian national team secured a hard-fought victory against Slovakia in the second Euro 2024 football tournament round. The game in Dusseldorf concluded with a score of 2–1, with Shaparenko and Yaremchuk netting the two goals for the "blue and yellow" team.
"Suspilne. Sport" reports this.
At the beginning of the tournament, the teams had contrasting outcomes in the opening round:
- the Ukrainians lost 0-3 to Romania,
- while the Slovaks surprisingly defeated the favored Belgian team 1-0.
Photo: REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw
Before the game, Serhii Rebrov's coaching staff made several changes to the "blue-yellow" team:
- Oleksandr Tymchyk began as the right defender,
- Volodymyr Brazhko started in the center of the field,
- Andriy Yarmolenko substituted for the injured Viktor Tsyhankov as winger,
- Anatoliy Trubin took over as goalkeeper.
Photo: REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw
The Slovak national team experienced several key moments at the start of the game. Lukas Haraslin and Ivan Shrants made impressive scoring plays, but Trubin's saves ultimately saved the team.
In the 17th minute, the Slovaks capitalized on their advantage and scored a goal. Unfortunately, Oleksandr Zinchenko could not block Shrants' header from the edge of the goalkeeper's area, resulting in a score of 0–1.
After thirty minutes of play, Ukraine made a comeback with a powerful shot from Oleksandr Tymchyk, guiding the ball into the far corner for a goal! Zinchenko also had a chance to score for the Slovaks from a free kick, but the goalkeeper saved it just before halftime.
Photo: REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw
After the intermission, it took the Ukrainians only 10 minutes to even the score. Mykola Shaparenko secured their first tournament goal for the "blue-yellow" team, converting a cross from Zinchenko on the wing.
After equalizing the score, Serhii Rebrov made some changes to the attacking players for the last 20 minutes of the regular time. He brought Oleksandr Zubkov on the wing instead of Yarmolenko, and Roman Yaremchuk replaced Artem Dovbyk on the wing.
Shortly after, Yaremchuk and Mykhailo Mudryk executed a speedy counterattack. The "Chelsea" winger took a shot from a difficult angle, causing the ball to rebound off the post and back onto the field.
Yaremchuk scored the deciding goal for Ukraine in the 80th minute. Shaparenko made a vertical pass to the forward, then shot past goalkeeper Martin Dubravka from a short distance — making it 2:1!
Slovakia — Ukraine 1:2
Goals: Shrants, 17 — Shaparenko, 54, Yaremchuk, 80
In the second round, Ukraine took second place in Quartet E, which the Romanians and Belgians have yet to meet (June 22).
Group E. Tournament table
- Romania — 3 points (1 match), 3:0 (goal difference)
- Ukraine — 3 (2), 2:4
- Slovakia — 3 (2), 2:2
- Belgium — 0 (1), 0:1
The third-round match between Ukraine and Belgium will occur on Wednesday, June 26, starting at 19:00 Kyiv time.
President Volodymyr Zelensky reacted to the Ukrainian team's victory:
"To believe in each other! To support each other! To fight for each other! This is what should unite each of us. And now, each of us in our place should fight for freedom, life, and for the correct perception of Ukraine in the world."
For reference:
On June 21 in Dusseldorf, the National Football Team of Ukraine's fan base organized a march to support President Zelensky's "Bring Kids Back UA" mission. This plan aims to bring back children who were illegally deported and forcefully displaced by Russia to Ukraine.
