In the top spot
Sunday, September 9, 2018
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Ukraine played the second UEFA Nations League game vs Slovakia in Lviv
Shakhtar’s five men
In comparison with the previous match, the national team head coach Andriy Shevchenko has made just one change in the starting lineup, fielding Mykyta Burda instead of Sergii Kryvtsov. So, five Shakhtar players appeared on the pitch from the off: Andriy Pyatov was in the goal with the captain's armband on, Yaroslav Rakits’kyy and Mykola Matviienko played defensively, Taras Stepanenko and Marlos operated in midfield.
Without risking it
The beginning turned out to be really cautious: the opponents focussed on defending, with the main threat being posed by the long-range attempts (mutually inaccurate) and high balls (the defenders and goalkeepers easily dealt with them). The first great move happened only towards thirty minutes: Marlos brought Yaremchuk through on goal, but the striker just hit the Slovak goalkeeper. Immediately after that, the Blue-and-Yellows created the most dangerous chance in the first half - Malynovskyi sent a powerful free-kick just inches above the crossbar.
Decisive spot kick
After the break, the teams’ pace rose, with increasingly more dangerous situations occurring. Early in the second half, the visiting defender was close to netting an own goal after Malynovskyi's cross, with Matviienko being close to reaching for Rakits’kyy’s pass from the wing. The Slovaks responded with a long-ranger by Lobotka - just wide. In the 78th minute, Tsyhankov appeared on the pitch, earning a spot-kick just a few seconds later, which was converted by Yarmolenko. Despite the opponents’ attempts to equalise, this goal remained the only one in the match. 1-0 - the national team of Ukraine secured their second win in the UEFA Nations League.
Ukraine 1-0 (0-0) Slovakia
Goal: 1-0 Yarmolenko (80, pen.)
Ukraine: Pyatov (c), Matviienko, Rakits’kyy, Burda, Karavaev, Stepanenko (Sydorchuk, 86), Malinovskyi (Zinchenko, 71), Konoplyanka (Tsyhankov, 78), Yarmolenko, Marlos, Yaremchuk
After two meetings, the Blue-and-Yellows have 6 points and the top spot in the group. The next match in the competition will be held vs the Czech Republic on October 16.
In comparison with the previous match, the national team head coach Andriy Shevchenko has made just one change in the starting lineup, fielding Mykyta Burda instead of Sergii Kryvtsov. So, five Shakhtar players appeared on the pitch from the off: Andriy Pyatov was in the goal with the captain's armband on, Yaroslav Rakits’kyy and Mykola Matviienko played defensively, Taras Stepanenko and Marlos operated in midfield.
Without risking it
The beginning turned out to be really cautious: the opponents focussed on defending, with the main threat being posed by the long-range attempts (mutually inaccurate) and high balls (the defenders and goalkeepers easily dealt with them). The first great move happened only towards thirty minutes: Marlos brought Yaremchuk through on goal, but the striker just hit the Slovak goalkeeper. Immediately after that, the Blue-and-Yellows created the most dangerous chance in the first half - Malynovskyi sent a powerful free-kick just inches above the crossbar.
Decisive spot kick
After the break, the teams’ pace rose, with increasingly more dangerous situations occurring. Early in the second half, the visiting defender was close to netting an own goal after Malynovskyi's cross, with Matviienko being close to reaching for Rakits’kyy’s pass from the wing. The Slovaks responded with a long-ranger by Lobotka - just wide. In the 78th minute, Tsyhankov appeared on the pitch, earning a spot-kick just a few seconds later, which was converted by Yarmolenko. Despite the opponents’ attempts to equalise, this goal remained the only one in the match. 1-0 - the national team of Ukraine secured their second win in the UEFA Nations League.
Ukraine 1-0 (0-0) Slovakia
Goal: 1-0 Yarmolenko (80, pen.)
Ukraine: Pyatov (c), Matviienko, Rakits’kyy, Burda, Karavaev, Stepanenko (Sydorchuk, 86), Malinovskyi (Zinchenko, 71), Konoplyanka (Tsyhankov, 78), Yarmolenko, Marlos, Yaremchuk
After two meetings, the Blue-and-Yellows have 6 points and the top spot in the group. The next match in the competition will be held vs the Czech Republic on October 16.
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