Ukraine revived its Euro 2024 hopes as substitute Roman Yaremchuk’s late goal saw it hit back after falling a goal behind to beat Slovakia 2-1 in a lively Group E clash on Friday.
Trailing at halftime to an early goal scored by Ivan Schranz, Ukraine’s hopes were hanging by a thread but it produced a storming comeback in front of its joyous fans.
Slovakia, which shocked Belgium in its opening match, would have ensured a last-16 spot with a win but after a dream start it paid the price for sitting back.
Mykola Shaparenko equalised in the 54th minute with a close-range finish before they snatched a vital win as Yaremchuk controlled a lofted pass by Shaparenko to prod past Slovakia’s goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
Victory lifted Ukraine level on three points with Slovakia and Romania, which faces Belgium on Saturday.
Just as it did at Euro 2020, Slovakia had won its opening match in impressive fashion by stunning Belgium. Three years ago, however, it still ended up crashing out at the group stage.
It began against Ukraine clearly determined to avoid a repeat and dominated the opening exchanges on a Duesseldorf pitch greased up pre-match rain.
Ukraine keeper Anatoliy Trubin, one of five changes to the Ukraine team beaten 3-0 by Romania, kept his side level with saves in quick succession to keep out a Lukas Haraslin shot and Schranz’s close-range effort.
Slovakia was rewarded or their positive start in the 17th minute though when Haraslin’s measured lobbed cross was headed in at the far post by Schranz for his second goal of the tournament, having also scored winner against Belgium.
With its tournament hopes looking as gloomy as the Duesseldorf sky, Ukraine finally sprang to life.
Mykhailo Mudryk blasted one shot high over the bar, had a better effort blocked by Slovakia defender Peter Pekarik before right back Oleksandr Tymchyk thumped a skidding low drive against the post with keeper Martin Dubravka beaten.
Dubravka then had to be alert to beat out a free kick by Oleksandr Zinchenko, although at the other end Slovakia threatened to double their lead on the counterattack with Haraslin’s shot well saved by Trubin.
Ukraine began the second half on the front foot and Artem Dovbyk, top scorer in La Liga last season, was just unable to direct a Mudryk cross at goal.
Kicking towards its yellow and blue-clad fans, Ukraine’s mounting pressure paid off a minute later when an unmarked Shaparenko was picked out by Zinchenko’s silky pass and he calmly sent a left-footed shot into the corner.
Slovakia looked content to hang on for a point but was fortunate when Mudryk struck the post with a shot from an acute angle with 15 minutes left.
Ukraine then dug deep and Yaremchuk was picked out by the excellent Shaparenko to send the war-torn nation into its final group game full of hope.
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