Ukraine won their first competitive match of the new calendar year against Scotland and are in the play-off final for the last European World Cup ticket. In Scotland, the visitors showed a commanding performance for a long time, but it became gripping towards the end.
Scotland, who finished second in their World Cup qualifying group behind Denmark, started their first competitive match of the calendar year with a full squad, including Premier League stars such as McTominay (ManUnited), Robertson (Liverpool) and McGinn (Aston Villa) in Steve Clarke’s starting eleven.
The visitors from Ukraine, who had only been able to play test matches since the start of the war in their homeland and had, among other things, tested against Gladbach three weeks earlier, also started with the best possible personnel under the management of Oleksandr Petrakov and led by captain Yarmolenko (West Ham). Among others, ManCity’s Zinchenko or Bergamo’s Malinovskyi found themselves on the field.
Irrespective of the high sporting value of the encounter at Hampden Park – after all, it was about reaching the final for the last European World Cup ticket – the match also had a high symbolic significance. The Ukrainian players came out of the dressing rooms wrapped in their nation’s flag to thunderous applause, and the national anthem was also an emotional moment.
But then it was all about the sporting side of things – and the Ukrainians started with a hard line, Yaremchuk (5th) and Malionvskyi (11th) were cautioned early on by referee Danny Makkelie (Netherlands).
Gordon saves several times – Yarmolenko worth seeing for the lead
The visitors seemed to have taken the edge off the Bravehearts for the time being, as Scotland only played long balls and were unable to trouble the Ukrainian defenders at any point in the first half.
It was a different story on the other side, as the hosts were able to thank keeper Gordon several times in the early stages for keeping the score level for the time being. First he deflected an attempt by Tsygankov over the crossbar (9th), then he threw himself into the path of Yarmolenko’s shot from close range (17th), and finally he snatched the ball off the captain’s foot (20th).
Nevertheless, Ukraine remained active and finally beat the Bravehearts with their own style: A long ball from Malinovskyi reached Yarmolenko, the ex-Dortmund player took the ball down nicely and then spooned it sensitively over Gordon into the goal (33rd). The lead was well deserved at this point, and since nothing much happened until the break, it lasted until the walk into the dressing room.
Yaremchuk shocks Scotland
Clarke brought on Christie for the pre-loaded Dykes at the restart, making some changes, Christie was the game-changing solution. But the next setback followed, as Yaremchuk headed in a Karavaev cross at the second post to make it 2-0 (49th).
Ukraine continued to defend very well and to show a lot of joy forward, while it took Scotland a long time to recover from the second goal and to increase the pressure. The first chance came from McGinn, who failed to capitalise on a mistake by Bushchan and sent his header past the goal from five yards (68th).
Bushchan from hero to mistake – thrilling final phase
Never the less, the visitors looked rattled by the Scots’ increased advances, and suddenly a goal from the hosts seemed only a matter of time, but Bushchan’s save from Adams (76) kept Ukraine’s two-goal lead intact – at least for the time being.
Only minutes later, the Dynamo Kiev goalkeeper took centre stage when he first made a weak fist save and then let McGregor’s follow-up shot slip through his arms (80th). Only 1:2 and Hampden Park came to life again.
The game went back and forth, Ukraine were dangerous again and again on the counterattack, Scotland’s sharp crosses caused heart palpitations on the other side. In the end, however, the visitors prevailed and even restored the old distance, as substitute Dovbyk used a counter-attack to make it 3-1 with the final whistle (90.+5).
While Scotland’s dream of a World Cup in Qatar is over, Ukraine have just one last step to take to reach the World Cup for the first time since 2006. Ukraine will face Wales in Cardiff on Sunday (20.45). The winner will get the last European World Cup ticket and will then face England, Iran and the USA in Group B in November.
