After 14 years without both teams meeting in official competition, Ukraine and Russia faced each other, in a match marked by the international context. The Russians had the absence of Robinho and Antoskhin, while the Ukrainians recovered Fareniuk.
The match began with a first goal for the Russian team in the second minute. A shot by Sokolov was slightly deflected by Paulinho and meant that neither Shoturma cleared nor goalkeeper Tsypun was successful.
Ukraine felt the goal like a punch in the stomach. Kosenko’s men were out of touch and out of ideas. Meanwhile Russia, without displaying the best game of the championship either, dominated the duel. And as if that were not enough, the Ukrainians committed the fifth foul in the 10th minute.
The introduction of goalkeeper-player to the Ukrainian national team came out a cross and heads. In that order. In the 15th minute, Putilov took a quick serve to Afanasyev, who brushed the ball against the crossbar, but the rebound fell again and he did not spare. A minute later, a very strong shot from Siriy in what was the first time with Ukrainian danger, allowed to reduce distances to those who today exercised local.
The forces equalized around the locker room, despite the fact that Davidov was able to extend the lead as soon as the second half started, but his shot crashed off the side of the post.
The tension was chewing in the room. Perhaps for this reason, the game was too slow, with many inaccuracies and very static. Ukraine had taken a step forward but was not big enough to win the game.
The monotony was broken in the 31st minute with the goal of the tournament. Niyazov caught a cross from the right wing and with a majestic snip sent the ball into the net.
This time, Ukraine did show a more offensive version thanks to putting goalkeeper-player again. Therefore, Putilov had to try harder with that superiority against him. The longing for a comeback came with five to go, when Abakshin deflected a shot from Shoturma.
And the equalizer could have come from the penalty spot, when Afanasyev took Korsun ahead with a mow. Shoturma was in charge of executing the maximum penalty but Putilov guessed that the ball would go to the center of the goal. Abakshin also had a somewhat forced shot that went wide. In the end, Russia is a finalist six years later and without greeting the Ukrainians once the match is over.