The Ukrainian men’s national football team is one win away from their big dream, the World Cup. The team’s star player Oleksandr Zinchenko says they have to beat Wales, or else Scotland’s victory doesn’t matter.
Ukraine won the World Cup qualifier in Glasgow in Scotland 3-1 (1-0) and advanced to the final qualifiers against Wales. The match will be played on Sunday in Cardiff and the winner of this match will advance to the Qatar World Cup.
The World Cup qualifier between Scotland and Ukraine was due to take place as early as March, but Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine moved the match forward.
Now a lot of emotion was seen in Hampden Park and even before the match started it was seen how football can connect people. The Ukrainian players marched on the field with the flags of the country on their shoulders and received massive applause from both their own supporters and the Scots. Yellow-blue flags fluttered everywhere and the Ukrainian national anthem was sung in every corner of the stadium.
Ukraine itself was considered a problem after 17 minutes. Craig Gordon however, was able to resist Andriy Yarmolenkon vedon. He could no longer prevent Yarmolenko’s next bet, for Ruslan Malinovskyi gave the visitors the lead 33 minutes into the match to make it 0 – 1. The goal was scored from the penalty spot after a handball in the penalty area. Yarmolenko, sneaking on the outskirts of the offside, took possession of the ball and lifted it over Gordon.
Ukraine got off to a great start in the second half. Oleksandr Karavaev found Roman Yaremchukin 49 minutes into the match and the home team took a 2 – 0 lead after breaking through on the left.
After 65 minutes, the home side was awarded a penalty Georgiy Bushchan slams the ball in front of the goal To John McGinnbut this butt passed.
However, Scotch came to the rescue as Bushchan bounced the ball back to the opponent and Callum McGregor could finish the match after 79 minutes.
However, Ukraine took the whole pot for extra time Oleksandr Zinchenko built two great paint spots. Of these, Ukraine succeeded, and the goal was finished Artem Dovbyk.
– Everyone knows what the situation is in Ukraine, and every match is like a final for us. We have one more game, one final and we have to win it, or else this game doesn’t matter, he said and said he knew the dangers of Wales.
– We have to do the best performance of our lives, and then let’s see what happens.