June 17, 2016

Ukraine wins two more friendly matches

More

In the first of two Euro Cup 2016 warm-up friendly matches on May 29, Ukraine defeated Romania, 4-3, in Turin, Italy. This was Romania’s first loss since June 2014 and Mykhaylo Fomenko’s national team showed it should not be taken lightly after scoring four goals in a mere 15 minutes. This offensive outburst came against a team that had surrendered only two goals in its Euro qualifying schedule.

Ukraine got off to a quick start, although Romania scored first at 24 minutes with Gabriel Torje scoring on an assist by Bogdan Stancu. Shakhtar’s Vyacheslav Shevchuk managed several dangerous shots by the end of the first half, and at 44 minutes Roman Zozulya captured a Shevchuk pass, only to fire it home from in close to tie the match at 1-1.

After the break, Ukraine took the lead when 19-year-old Oleksandr Zinchenko (a late addition to the national team) won the ball and sent it into the far corner. A brief few minutes later, Ukraine tallied again through Yevhen Konoplyanka’s shot from the edge of the box. Now relentlessly attacking and definitely “in the zone,” Andriy Yarmolenko made it 4-1 on a pass from Konoplyanka.

Ukraine’s goaltender Andriy Pyatov was challenged in the second half. The Shakhtar keeper parried away a dangerous shot by Ovidiu Hoban before the Romanians crept closer with Dennis Alibek converting a free-kick and Constantin Stanciu hitting the back of the net, just off the post.

Zinchenko’s first international goal came on his second substitute appearance three minutes after coming on at half-time. He became the youngest player to score for Ukraine at the age of 19 – 165 days ahead of Andriy Shevchenko, who got his first goal for his country at age 19 years and 214 days.

Along with Zinchenko, Oleksandr Kucher and Yevhen Seleznyov were substituted onto the pitch after half-time.

All in all, it was a solid win for the Ukrainian team over the 19th ranked Romanian national team. Ukraine moved up to No. 22 in the world.

Ukraine 3 – Albania 1

In Bergamo, Italy on June 3, Ukraine’s final warm-up to the European Championship was a handy 3-1 dismantling of an overmatched Albania.

Midfielders Yarmolenko and Konoplyanka showed their national team is capable of scoring off the attack. Konoplyanka split Albania’s defense from the right in setting up Taras Stepanenko for the match’s opening tally. Albania evened up the count four minutes later with a shot past goalkeeper Pyatov.

The loud Albanian crowd, reportedly filling half the stadium in Bergamo, which is the training site for Albania’s national team, had little to cheer for as Ukraine triumphed for the fourth time in four pre-Euro warmups.

Yarmolenko headed in Zozulya’s cross mere minutes after halftime and Ukraine sealed the victory with two minutes to go, Konoplyanka finishing a mistake by Albanian defender Ansi Agolli.

The win improved Ukraine’s FIFA rankig to No. 19 in the world.

Comments are closed.