The Rise of Ukraine FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019 Champions

Ukraine were competing for only the fourth time at this tournament since the 1991 dissolution of the former Soviet Union. They became FIFA U-20 World Cup champions for the first time after withstanding an early goal from Korea Republic in order to rebound and win 3-1 in the final at Lodz Stadium.

While Ukraine had previously won the 2009 under-19 European Championships and had advanced on three occasions to the quarter-final stages of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, now in 2019 in neighbouring Poland the pinnacle was reached. Along the way they had won Group D, which included victories against the United States and Qatar, and a 1-1 draw against Nigeria, that set up a last 16 match against Panama who were overcome with ease. The quarter-final saw Ukraine advance by defeating Columbia and overpowering the much-fancied Italy in the semi-final to reach an historic final. There was much surprise when Danylo Sikan, Ukraine’s top scorer at FIFA U-20 Poland 2019 was omitted from the starting line-up, with instead Vladyslav Supriaha taking his place in the team, having yet to score in the tournament.

Korea Republic playing in their first World final put early pressure on Ukraine, inflicting a serious threat on the right side with repeated attacks. Eventually, their efforts were rewarded when they scored after only 5 minutes through Lee Kangin, who slotted home an early penalty which resulted after a (VAR) check confirmed that twenty-year-old Taehyeon was brought down after only 2 minutes in the box by Danylo Beskorovainyi. Initially, the referee Ismail Elfath had waved for play to continue, his first reaction being that nothing untoward had occurred. However, when the ball went out of play the video assistant referee was called upon to adjudicate and so the penalty was awarded. The goal that resulted from Lee Kangin was historic in that Korea Republic were the first team from Asia to register a score in a World final.

Lee Kangin, the eighteen-year-old Valencia player was so dedicated to Korea Republic’s participation at this tournament, that he desisted from the chance to be part of his club’s Copa del Rey final victory against Barcelona. As Ukraine pressed forward, Lee Kangin found a deeper position in midfield, trying to provide the ball to Oh Se-hun.

Oleksandr Petrakov’s side increased the tempo and one felt, that the goal had to come and on 34 minutes it was Vladyslav Supriaha, who thus far had been well marked by the Korean defence, now justifying his selection. The young Dynamo Kyiv forward, from close range scored the all-important goal for Ukraine to equalize. It was Supriaha once again eight minutes into the second half, who cooly beat Korea Republic goalkeeper, Lee Gwang-yeon, to put Ukraine into a well-deserved lead to the delight of his manager. Supriaha picked up a shoulder injury and was replaced by Sikan on 63 minutes.

On 89 minutes it was Heorhii Tsitaishvili, the versatile eighteen-year-old young Ukrainian midfielder, who currently plays for Dynamo Kyiv and a product of the youth sportive school, made an electrifying run from distance to place the ball in the corner of the net, well beyond Lee Gwang-yeon to seal a 3-1 victory for Ukraine.

Korea Republic contributed to a memorable final and to their credit had the capacity to dominate parts of the game. Asia still awaits a World Cup winner. When tournaments end heroes are acclaimed and legends prevail. As yet it is too early to see where some of these stars of Poland 2019 shall illuminate, suffice to say, football was the winner. Ukraine have made the vital breakthrough on the World stage at U-20 level and are currently topping Group B of UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers, ahead of European Champions Portugal. Ukraine have an array of young talent waiting in the wings to advance their aspirations at the higher grade.

UKR: 1 LUNIN; 2 BONDAR (C), 3 SAFRONOV, 7 TSITAISHVILI, 8 KHAKHLOV,  9 KORNIIENKO, 10 BULETSA, 11 SUPRIAHA, 13 BESKOROVAINYI,  15 DRYSHLIUK, 17 KONOPLIA

KOR: 1 LEE Gwangyeon; 2 HWANG (C), 3 LEE Jaeik, 4 LEE Jisol, 5 KIM Hyunwoo, 6 KIM Jungmin, 9 OH, 10 LEE Kangin, 18 CHO, 19 CHOI Jun, 20 KIM Seyun

Scorers: 0-1 5’ LEE Kangin (10, pen.), 1-1 34’ SUPRIAHA (11),  2-1 53’ SUPRIAHA (11), 3-1 89’ TSITAISHVILI (7)

Referee: ELFATH Ismail (USA)

Assistant referees: ATKINS Kyle (USA), PARKER Corey (USA)

4th official: ZITOUNI Abdelkader (TAH) Reserve assistant referee:  MOEAKI Folio (TGA)

Substitutions: UKR:  56’ out KHAKHLOV (8), in CHEKH (6),   63’ out SUPRIAHA (11), in SIKAN (14),   88’ out BULETSA (10), in KASHCHUK (21) KOR:  46’ HT out KIM Seyun (20), in UM (11),   63’ out CHO (18), in JEON (7),   80’ out CHOI Jun (19), in LEE Kyuhyuk (8)

Cautions: UKR:  86’ KONOPLIA (17) KOR:  33’ KIM Hyunwoo (5), 56’ LEE Jaeik (3), 78’ OH (9)