In a match of paramount importance for both teams and loaded with symbolism, it was Ukraine who were the first to get their hands on the match by creating several dangerous chances. Tskygankov required the intervention of Gordon (7th) before the latter had to make an impressive reflex save in front of Yarmolenko, who had found himself absolutely alone at close range from the Scottish goalkeeper following a very badly negotiated ball by the defenders (16th).
Despite Scotland emerging from a few counter outings, Ukraine confirmed their strong start to the game when Malinovsky sent a smash ball from his own half over the Scottish defense into Yarmolenko’s run, which rewarded the stadium with a perfectly adjusted lob following a control in the middle of the race (0-1, 33rd). The Zbirna thus returned to the locker room in charge, in the game and on the scoreboard.
And the advantage was confirmed from the start, when Yaremchuk doubled the visitors’ lead by winning with a header in the middle of 3 defenders to convert Karavaev’s center (0-2, 49th). But Scotland did not admit defeat: first, McGregor almost surprised Bushchan on a difficult clearance (57th), then McGinn seemed to miss the inevitable when he inherited a ball at the end carrying an empty goal but missed the frame of the head (67th).
The Scottish goal finally fell late, when the Ukrainian goalkeeper repelled a cross with difficulty before McGregor volleyed the ball which passed a few centimeters beyond the goal line (1-2, 80th). After a fiercely contested quarter of an hour from one side of the field to the other, the hosts were finally surprised by a last-minute Ukrainian counterattack launched by Zinchenko and concluded by Dovbyk (1-3, 90th +5).
Ukraine will face Wales on Sunday in Cardiff. The winner of this final duel will win a ticket for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
