Slovakia 1-2 Ukraine - Friday 21st June 2024

[Michael]

Haraslin has a shot that takes a deflection and it's well saved by Trubin.

[Michael]

Haraslin is having another great game for Slovakia, he's looked really lively and dangerous.

[Michael]

Well Slovakia were the better side in the early part of that half and they got their goal early. Ukraine were the better side in the last 25 minutes. Ukraine created some good chances and were unlucky with hitting the post. But they also were a bit wasteful with some of the good attacks and positions that they got in. Trubin has been excellent in my opinion. Ukraine have shown they can create chances, but for me, there needs to be more urgency in their play. Ukraine don't press Slovakia, when Slovakia are in possession in their own half or in central areas, but Slovakia are closing the Ukrainian players at every opportunity.

 

[Michael]

Mudryk with dribbles past a Slovak player and goes on a run and delivers a whipping cross for Dovbyk, but the Girona forward couldn't direct the header on target.

[Michael]

Shaparenko equalises for Ukraine!!

Slovakia 1-1 Ukraine

Edited June 21 by Michael

[Michael]

Mudryk attacked down the middle and the ball eventually was passed to Zinchenko on the flank and his cross into the area found the onrushing Shaparenko who hammered the ball into the net. That's just the response Ukraine needed.

Slovakia 1-1 Ukraine

[Stan]

4 minutes ago, Michael said:

Mudryk attacked down the middle and the ball eventually was passed to Zinchenko on the flank and his cross into the area found the onrushing Shaparenko who hammered the ball into the net. That's just the response Ukraine needed.

Slovakia 1-1 Ukraine

Been much better since half-time. Showing a lot more intent. 

[Michael]

Substitutions for Slovakia as Benes comes of for Duda and Strelec comes on for Bozenik.

[Michael]

What's

5 minutes ago, Stan said:

Been much better since half-time. Showing a lot more intent. 

They've had to be. Lose this match and they're essentially out. But it would have been nice to see this sense of urgency from the start.

[Michael]

Slovakia make more substitutions as Suslov comes on for Haraslin and Obert comes on for Hancko.

While Ukraine also make some substitutions as Yaremchuk comes on for Dovbyk and Zubkov comes on for Yarmolenko.

 

[Michael]

I don't mind Valencia's Yaremchuk coming on for Dovbyk but why is it Zubkov on for Yarmolenko? It should be Tsyhankov who is brought on, he is much better than Zubkov.

[Stan]

Yaremchuk has to do better there. Killed Mudryk. 

[Michael]

Ukraine break as Yaremchuk turns his marker and runs with the ball, he passes to Mudryk who pulls off a shot from a tight angle that hits the post and goes out. Big chance for Ukraine to take the lead.

[Michael]

Yaremchuk scores for Ukraine!!!

It was a lovely ball over the defence by Shaparenko that found Yaremchuk. Yaremchuk then took one touch to control the landing ball and his 2nd touch was a shot that found the back of the net. Great goal for Ukraine.

Slovakia 1-2 Ukraine

Edited June 21 by Michael

[Stan]

I'll be honest I didn't expect Ukraine to turn this around based on the first game and first half of this one. They've totally turned their performance round. Yaremchuk took that goal beautifully. 

[Michael]

Ukraine have finally woken up, they've controlled this 2nd half and have been rewarded with 2 goals.

[Michael]

Rebrov making substitutions, defensive midfielders Malinovskyi and Sydorchuk come on for Mudryk and Brazhko. The experienced players come on for the young guns.

Edited June 21 by Michael

[Michael]

3 minutes ago, Stan said:

I'll be honest I didn't expect Ukraine to turn this around based on the first game and first half of this one. They've totally turned their performance round. Yaremchuk took that goal beautifully. 

The performance in the 1st match was sub-par and Ukraine were uninspiring in the opening quarter of an hour or so of this match. Their performance gradually improved in the 1st half though, were they created some dangerous chances and looked the better team for the rest of that half. But they've really turned it on in the 2nd half. 

Ukraine though have a habit of going down and then ending up winning, they are unfortunately usually slow starters. But that Yaremchuk goal demanded great technique, a super goal. While Shaparenko has had a much improved game. He scored the 1st goal and assisted Yaremchuk's goal. This has been an impressive reaction and 2nd half performance by Ukraine.

[Michael]

Yaremchuk works so hard as a centre forward, I love the effort that he puts in for the team.

Edited June 21 by Michael

[Tommy]

Nice one, Ukraine. 

 

Beautiful stadium btw

[Michael]

It's all over, the referee blows his whistle and Ukraine beat Slovakia 2-1!  Down a goal, they showed back bone to turn the match around and win the match. Similar to the performances in the play-offs, they turn the game around to win 2-1.

A valuable win for Ukraine and they need to replicate that 2nd half performance in their upcoming matches. They created many dangerous chances and that kind of form needs to continue. This group is now wide open.

Slovakia 1-2 Ukraine

Edited June 21 by Michael

[Michael]

Shaparenko was awarded the man of the match award and it's no real surprise, because he was excellent. Shaparenko scored Ukraine's 1st goal and then he assisted Yaremchuk for Ukraine's 2nd goal, with that lovely long pass to him. 

The most positive thing to see in this match from Ukraine's perspective, is the way they responded to going a goal down. Ukraine didn't press high up enough in the 1st half and that was obvious to see. But in the 2nd half, they pressed much further up the field and their quality told in the end, as Ukraine won 2-1 and created many other chances to score as well. 

An interesting fact to note, is that Ukraine have started with the youngest starting 11 in both of their matches at these Euros so far, with an average age of 25. However, Ukraine will arguably face their toughest challenge yet in their final group game against Belgium.

[Michael]