Ukraine vs Bulgaria: Stepanenko's great shot
Thursday, November 11, 2021
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The national team of Ukraine are preparing for the decisive World Cup qualifier vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
In Odesa on November 11, the team of Oleksandr Petrakov played a friendly vs Bulgaria. The Yellow-Blues started the match with the back four in their formation, with Sergii Kryvtsov and Mykola Matviienko making up a centre-back pairing.
First half’s illogical outcome
In the very first minute, the Ukrainians could have taken the lead, but Zinchenko sent Yarmolenko’s pass forward just to see it bounce off the ground. Then the hosts created two more dangerous chances after Andriy's cross from the right flank, and Dovbyk even managed to hammer Tymchyk’s cross into the back of the net, but the officials team caught him offside. Matviienko produced a chance following a corner kick only to see a Bulgarian deny his header. In a word, the advantage was clear, and scoring a goal was seen as just a matter of time. However, it was scored against the logic of events by the visitors – Kirilov took advantage of a succession of defensive mistakes. The Ukrainians bombarded the opposing goal with multiple attacks, but none of them resulted in a goal.
Stepanenko appeared, backed attacks and scored a stunner
Taras Stepanenko entered the game early in the second half. Zinchenko and Yaremchuk produced nearly identical efforts towards the right corner: the goalpost came to the Bulgarians’ rescue on the first occasion, and the ball went wide on the second one. Later, the goalkeeper stopped Malinovskyi's free-kick attempt. After Stepanenko fed Yarmolenko and the latter scored, the linesman flagged him offside just before Yaremchuk sent Sobol’s cross wide from an advantageous position. There were many more chances (the Ukrainians took 36 shots in this match, including 14 on target), along with the third goal from an offside position. In the 75th minute, Matviienko footed the ball into the hands of Vutsov, then Kryvtsov volleyed Malynovskyi's delivery goal-wards with the same result. And finally, the Ukrainians bagged a goal – a Shakhtar midfielder did it: Stepanenko picked up the ball outside the penalty area and planted a clinical right-footer right inside the far corner, making it 1-1! In the dying stages, it was possible for Ukraine to snatch a victory, but Kovalenko's attempt lacked accuracy, with Vutsov later denying Yaremchuk’s effort.
On Tuesday, November 16, the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina will host the national team of Ukraine in Zenica. The match kicks off at 21:45 Kyiv time (EET).
Ukraine 1-1 Bulgaria
Goals: 0-1 Kirilov (35’), 1-1 Stepanenko (79’)
Ukraine: Buschan (Reznyk, 46’), Tymchyk, Kryvtsov, Matviienko, Sobol (Kovalenko, 68’), Sydorchuk (Stepanenko, 46’), Malinovskyi (Harmash, 78’), Zinchenko, Yarmolenko (c), Dovbyk (Yaremchuk, 46’), Zubkov (Tsyhankov, 61’)
First half’s illogical outcome
In the very first minute, the Ukrainians could have taken the lead, but Zinchenko sent Yarmolenko’s pass forward just to see it bounce off the ground. Then the hosts created two more dangerous chances after Andriy's cross from the right flank, and Dovbyk even managed to hammer Tymchyk’s cross into the back of the net, but the officials team caught him offside. Matviienko produced a chance following a corner kick only to see a Bulgarian deny his header. In a word, the advantage was clear, and scoring a goal was seen as just a matter of time. However, it was scored against the logic of events by the visitors – Kirilov took advantage of a succession of defensive mistakes. The Ukrainians bombarded the opposing goal with multiple attacks, but none of them resulted in a goal.
Stepanenko appeared, backed attacks and scored a stunner
Taras Stepanenko entered the game early in the second half. Zinchenko and Yaremchuk produced nearly identical efforts towards the right corner: the goalpost came to the Bulgarians’ rescue on the first occasion, and the ball went wide on the second one. Later, the goalkeeper stopped Malinovskyi's free-kick attempt. After Stepanenko fed Yarmolenko and the latter scored, the linesman flagged him offside just before Yaremchuk sent Sobol’s cross wide from an advantageous position. There were many more chances (the Ukrainians took 36 shots in this match, including 14 on target), along with the third goal from an offside position. In the 75th minute, Matviienko footed the ball into the hands of Vutsov, then Kryvtsov volleyed Malynovskyi's delivery goal-wards with the same result. And finally, the Ukrainians bagged a goal – a Shakhtar midfielder did it: Stepanenko picked up the ball outside the penalty area and planted a clinical right-footer right inside the far corner, making it 1-1! In the dying stages, it was possible for Ukraine to snatch a victory, but Kovalenko's attempt lacked accuracy, with Vutsov later denying Yaremchuk’s effort.
On Tuesday, November 16, the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina will host the national team of Ukraine in Zenica. The match kicks off at 21:45 Kyiv time (EET).
Ukraine 1-1 Bulgaria
Goals: 0-1 Kirilov (35’), 1-1 Stepanenko (79’)
Ukraine: Buschan (Reznyk, 46’), Tymchyk, Kryvtsov, Matviienko, Sobol (Kovalenko, 68’), Sydorchuk (Stepanenko, 46’), Malinovskyi (Harmash, 78’), Zinchenko, Yarmolenko (c), Dovbyk (Yaremchuk, 46’), Zubkov (Tsyhankov, 61’)
