+ A
A -
DPA
Berlin
Ukraine boosted their chances of reaching the last 16 at Euro 2020 with a 2-1 win which left tournament debutants North Macedonia on the brink of elimination on Thursday.
Andriy Yarmolenko and Roman Yaremchuk struck in the first half in Bucharest to decide the Group C encounter, with Ukraine just about good value for their win after losing 3-2 to the Netherlands in their opener.
North Macedonia, defeated 3-1 by Austria in their first game, again fought hard and hit back through Ezgjan Alioski’s penalty. But they could not force a leveller and will be eliminated if the Dutch pick up at least a point against the Austrians later.
Group placings are decided on head-to-heads when teams are level, meaning North Macedonia now risk being confirmed as the fourth-placed team in the group irrespective of their final group game against the Netherlands.
“We played a match of two very different halves. In the second half we showed why we are at the European Championship,” North Macedonia coach Igor Angelovski told a news conference.
Ukraine will head into their group finale with Austria in confident mood.
Man-of-the-match Yarmolenko told reporters: “I’m very pleased to achieve this award but more so I’m pleased with the three points we have earned. I wouldn’t focus only on those who score goals or supply assists. Look at our defence, how great their performance was today.” The four best third-placed teams go through to the last 16. Four third-placed teams finished with three points at Euro 2016, two going through including eventual champions Portugal and two going out.
Ukraine made by far the brighter start and had a number of early half-chances, but could not initially find the killer instinct which their coach Andriy Shevchenko was famous for as a player.
But it was only a matter of time before Ukraine broke down the door, Yarmolenko guiding the ball home at the far post following a corner on 29 minutes.
It was his 42nd international goal - only six behind Ukrainian record holder Shevchenko.
Yaremchuk then sprang the offside trap and finished with aplomb just five minutes later.
North Macedonia, who stunned Germany 2-1 away in a World Cup qualifier in March, thought they had a route back before the break but veteran captain Goran Pandev’s cute goal was ruled out for offside.
They pushed in the second half too and won a penalty when Pandev was adjudged to have been fouled by Oleksandr Karavaev.
Alioski’s spot-kick was saved by Georgiy Bushchan but the Leeds United player was able to fire home the rebound on 57 minutes.
Ukraine then had a few major scares before Ruslan Malinovskyi missed a penalty for the victors, who managed to close out only their second win at a Euros as an independent nation.
Shevchenko’s men had dragged themselves back to 2-2 before losing to the Netherlands and are showing a toughness which could make them awkward opponents in the knockout stages - but they are not there yet.
Argentine Fernando Andres Rapallini was in charge of this clash, becoming the first non-European to referee a match at a Euros.
Berlin
Ukraine boosted their chances of reaching the last 16 at Euro 2020 with a 2-1 win which left tournament debutants North Macedonia on the brink of elimination on Thursday.
Andriy Yarmolenko and Roman Yaremchuk struck in the first half in Bucharest to decide the Group C encounter, with Ukraine just about good value for their win after losing 3-2 to the Netherlands in their opener.
North Macedonia, defeated 3-1 by Austria in their first game, again fought hard and hit back through Ezgjan Alioski’s penalty. But they could not force a leveller and will be eliminated if the Dutch pick up at least a point against the Austrians later.
Group placings are decided on head-to-heads when teams are level, meaning North Macedonia now risk being confirmed as the fourth-placed team in the group irrespective of their final group game against the Netherlands.
“We played a match of two very different halves. In the second half we showed why we are at the European Championship,” North Macedonia coach Igor Angelovski told a news conference.
Ukraine will head into their group finale with Austria in confident mood.
Man-of-the-match Yarmolenko told reporters: “I’m very pleased to achieve this award but more so I’m pleased with the three points we have earned. I wouldn’t focus only on those who score goals or supply assists. Look at our defence, how great their performance was today.” The four best third-placed teams go through to the last 16. Four third-placed teams finished with three points at Euro 2016, two going through including eventual champions Portugal and two going out.
Ukraine made by far the brighter start and had a number of early half-chances, but could not initially find the killer instinct which their coach Andriy Shevchenko was famous for as a player.
But it was only a matter of time before Ukraine broke down the door, Yarmolenko guiding the ball home at the far post following a corner on 29 minutes.
It was his 42nd international goal - only six behind Ukrainian record holder Shevchenko.
Yaremchuk then sprang the offside trap and finished with aplomb just five minutes later.
North Macedonia, who stunned Germany 2-1 away in a World Cup qualifier in March, thought they had a route back before the break but veteran captain Goran Pandev’s cute goal was ruled out for offside.
They pushed in the second half too and won a penalty when Pandev was adjudged to have been fouled by Oleksandr Karavaev.
Alioski’s spot-kick was saved by Georgiy Bushchan but the Leeds United player was able to fire home the rebound on 57 minutes.
Ukraine then had a few major scares before Ruslan Malinovskyi missed a penalty for the victors, who managed to close out only their second win at a Euros as an independent nation.
Shevchenko’s men had dragged themselves back to 2-2 before losing to the Netherlands and are showing a toughness which could make them awkward opponents in the knockout stages - but they are not there yet.
Argentine Fernando Andres Rapallini was in charge of this clash, becoming the first non-European to referee a match at a Euros.
