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A heroic Ukraine roused a efficiency of spirit, endeavour and braveness to stun Scotland and earn a historic World Cup play-off closing in opposition to Wales.
With their nation enshrouded in trauma amid the continuing conflict with Russia, a workforce hauled collectively shone brightly at a sun-drenched Hampden.
Andriy Yarmolenko and Roman Yaremchuk struck both aspect of half-time, earlier than Callum McGregor gave Scotland hope late on. However Artem Dovbyk sealed a Qatar 2022 showdown in Cardiff on Sunday with the final kick of the ball.
Whereas photographs of followers watching on in war-torn Ukraine circulated, 3,500 followers bedecked in gentle blue and yellow – together with 65 orphans invited by the Scottish FA – celebrated wildly in Glasgow on an evening none will overlook.
It was a night which began with the lyrics of the Ukrainian nationwide anthem putting an emotional chord at a charged Hampden.
Moments after their aspect strode on to the pitch draped in flags of their homeland, the phrases which had been belted out took on an entire new significance. “The glory and freedom of Ukraine has not but perished. Luck will nonetheless smile on us brother-Ukrainians.”
Because it transpired, luck had little to do with their workforce’s triumph right here. In maybe their best hour, they had been peerless.
This match was a very long time coming. Initially deliberate for March however postponed within the hope Ukraine can be able to taking part in the fixture, a sequence of friendlies had been all Olexandr Petrakov needed to put together.
It has been a gut-wrenching journey, with the tears on the face Oleksandr Zinchenko in Tuesday’s pre-match information convention providing a poignant reminder to all what this sport means in opposition to the backdrop of Ukraine’s struggles.
However in Glasgow, there was no emotional fatigue. Not a touch of an adrenaline rush fading, not a whiff of the occasion getting the higher of them.
Barring a late rally from the hosts, Petrakov’s males uncovered Scotland’s vulnerabilities, which had been made much more pronounced by the absence of Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney. The opener on 33 minutes articulated that completely.
Yarmolenko timed his run on to a by ball to perfection as Scotland’s excessive line failed. It was simply him and the whites of Craig Gordon’s eyes. These eyes quickly gazed up because the ball floated sublimely over the goalkeeper’s head and into the again of the web.
Steve Clarke shuffled his pack at half-time, throwing on Ryan Christie. However simply 4 minutes after the restart, Scotland had been once more ripped open with ease.
Oleksandr Karavaev was given the liberty of Mount Florida to bowl in one other cross and Yaremchuk handled Aaron Hickey’s consideration with out a lot hassle, his arching header again throughout aim looping in.
Clarke stood nonetheless on the fringe of his technical space because the Benfica striker raced to his countrymen and ladies behind the aim.
In reality, the warning indicators had been there. Gordon had denied Viktor Tsygankov on the half volley, whereas the Hearts goalkeeper saved from Yarmolenko at point-blank vary with the sport goalless.
Then got here the second when Scotland noticed their world flash in entrance of them. John McGinn, the Tartan Military’s darling, was gifted a header from six yards after Georgiy Bushchan flapped at a cross. With the aim at his mercy, the Aston Villa man headed large. He seemed on in disbelief.
On the touchline, Clarke appeared unmoved, getting ready two substitutes for a late cost.
Scotland charged however toiled nonetheless, but with 11 minutes they had been gifted a lifeline. McGregor’s effort was once more not handled by an more and more rattled Bushchan, who palmed the ball into the air and simply over the road earlier than it was hacked clear. Hampden erupted in a primal roar of determined hope fairly than based expectation.
However as Scotland pushed, they had been much more uncovered on the again. A sequence of lengthy punts within the closing phases broke down, with one closing roll of the cube permitting the Ukrainians to burst ahead deep into harm time.
Substitute Dovbyk had on a regular basis he wished to ultimately dispatch the ball by Gordon. The Dnipro-1 ahead, who has not performed a aggressive match since December, confirmed little emotion because the ball ruffled the web. Round him, his compatriots celebrated wildly on an astonishing evening for Ukraine as a soccer workforce, and a nation.
Man of the match – Oleksandr Zinchenko
What does this imply?
In what is probably the best second for the Ukraine nationwide workforce, even in victory the celebrations are in opposition to a sombre backdrop.
Coach Petrakov spoke from the guts in his post-match information convention. He devoted the outcome to the folks of Ukraine, they usually might but have one other chapter to pen on this saga on Sunday. Do not wager in opposition to it.
Clarke acknowledged that his workforce had been outplayed by their opponents, and captain Andy Robertson stated Scotland did not present up. It is exhausting to argue with both level.
For Scotland, there have been some actually bruising moments within the pursuit of match soccer since France ’98. However the sting from this one will eat away greater than most.
The extent of expectation surrounding the nationwide workforce has been raised. Whatever the situation of the opponents, there was a confidence that Scotland can be in Wales this Sunday.
However what we noticed was harking back to the deflating false hope skilled finally summer time’s Euros, when the Czechs dealt the Scots a heavy blow. They appeared caught out by the event. A shot at glory didn’t fall by their grasp, it was yanked away.
As both Ukraine or Wales can look ahead with pleasure to Qatar, self reflection would be the rapid thought for Clarke and his gamers no matter occurs within the coming days.
Match stats
- Scotland have did not qualify for the final six males’s World Cups since 1998. Between 1974 and 1998 they missed solely certainly one of seven tournaments.
- Ukraine have progressed from a World Cup qualifying play-off tie for the primary time on the fifth try, after failing in 1997, 2001, 2009 and 2013.
- This was solely the third assembly between the perimeters, with Ukraine now profitable two, including to a 2-0 victory in October 2006.
- Yaremchuk has scored 4 objectives in 2022 World Cup qualifying – essentially the most of any Ukraine participant. Three of these 4 objectives have come away from house in Kazakhstan, Finland and Scotland.
- McGregor scored solely his second aim in his forty third sport for Scotland, including to an effort in opposition to Croatia at Euro 2020.
- Aged 39 years and 152 days, Gordon turned the oldest participant to look for Scotland in a World Cup or World Cup qualifying match since Jim Leighton on the 1998 finals (39 years 334 days vs Morocco).
- Yarmolenko scored his forty fifth aim for Ukraine, and is now solely three behind Andriy Shevchenko (48).
What’s subsequent?
Whereas Ukraine go to Cardiff, Scotland must attempt to rouse themselves for his or her Nations League opener in opposition to Armenia at Hampden subsequent Wednesday (19:45 BST), adopted by journeys to Eire and Armenia within the following six days.
Participant of the match
ZinchenkoOleksandr Zinchenko
Line-ups
Scotland
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Gordon
- 4McTominay
- 5Hanley
- 16CooperSubstituted forHendryat 67′minutes
- 22Hickey
- 14GilmourSubstituted forS Armstrongat 68′minutes
- 8McGregor
- 3Robertson
- 7McGinnBooked at 59mins
- 10Adams
- 9DykesBooked at 44minsSubstituted forChristieat 45′minutes
Substitutes
- 2O’Donnell
- 6Souttar
- 11Christie
- 12Marshall
- 13Hendry
- 15McKenna
- 17S Armstrong
- 18Stewart
- 19Brown
- 20Ferguson
- 21Kelly
- 23Taylor
Ukraine
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Bushchan
- 21Karavaev
- 13Zabarnyi
- 22Matvienko
- 16Mykolenko
- 6StepanenkoSubstituted forSydorchukat 90+4′minutes
- 7YarmolenkoSubstituted forZubkovat 79′minutes
- 8MalinovskyiBooked at 11minsSubstituted forShaparenkoat 72′minutesBooked at 84mins
- 17Zinchenko
- 15TsygankovSubstituted forMudrykat 72′minutes
- 9YaremchukBooked at 5minsSubstituted forDovbykat 78′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Sobol
- 3Bondar
- 4Syrota
- 5Sydorchuk
- 10Shaparenko
- 11Dovbyk
- 12Pyatov
- 14Mudryk
- 18Pikhalyonok
- 19Kacharaba
- 20Zubkov
- 23Riznyk
Reside Textual content
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Match ends, Scotland 1, Ukraine 3.
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Second Half ends, Scotland 1, Ukraine 3.
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Purpose! Scotland 1, Ukraine 3. Artem Dovbyk (Ukraine) left footed shot from the centre of the field to the underside left nook. Assisted by Oleksandr Zinchenko with a by ball following a quick break.
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Substitution, Ukraine. Serhii Sydorchuk replaces Taras Stepanenko.
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Try missed. Grant Hanley (Scotland) header from the centre of the field misses to the left. Assisted by Aaron Hickey.
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Try missed. Oleksandr Zubkov (Ukraine) left footed shot from the centre of the field misses to the left. Assisted by Oleksandr Zinchenko.
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Try missed. Grant Hanley (Scotland) header from the proper aspect of the field misses to the proper. Assisted by John McGinn with a cross following a nook.
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Nook, Scotland. Conceded by Illia Zabarnyi.
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Hand ball by Artem Dovbyk (Ukraine).
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Mykola Matvienko (Ukraine) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
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Foul by Che Adams (Scotland).
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Hand ball by Oleksandr Zubkov (Ukraine).
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Mykola Shaparenko (Ukraine) is proven the yellow card for a nasty foul.
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Foul by Mykola Shaparenko (Ukraine).
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Ryan Christie (Scotland) wins a free kick on the proper wing.
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Foul by Mykhailo Mudryk (Ukraine).
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Aaron Hickey (Scotland) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
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Nook, Ukraine. Conceded by Callum McGregor.
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Nook, Scotland. Conceded by Taras Stepanenko.
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Purpose! Scotland 1, Ukraine 2. Callum McGregor (Scotland) left footed shot from exterior the field to the underside proper nook.
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