Ukraine bounce back from World Cup Playoff defeat with win in Ireland

Photo: Stephen Gormley (Red Eye Photo Agency)

Ukraine recovered from their painful defeat to Wales which ended their World Cup dreams with a fine 1-0 victory away to Ireland in the UEFA Nations League.

There were over 5,000 Ukraine fans in Dublin to cheer on their side, thanks to a very generous gift from the FAI of 3,000 free tickets to Ukrainians who had been displaced to Ireland due to the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Ukraine changed almost their entire starting line-up with 10 changes to the team that started against Wales in Cardiff just three days earlier.

Ireland started off brightly with central defender Shane Duffy coming close to scoring when his header was tipped on to the crossbar by goalkeeper Andriy Lunin. Ireland played a lot of nice passes during the game but too many going sideways and backwards and not enough going forward to the last third of the pitch. They just cannot buy a goal in the Nations League, having only scored twice in twelve fixtures.

Ukraine then took control of the game after the first 15 minutes of Ireland pressure. With eight minutes remaining in the first half, Taras Kacharaba’s sweet strike into the top corner of the net was ruled out by VAR for offside. That was a warning for Ireland as two minutes into the second half Viktor Tsygankov’s in-swinging free kick eluded Irish keeper Kelleher who was expecting a touch. However the ball bounced up and flew past him to make it 1-0 to Ukraine and the Irish were staring into yet another Nations League defeat.

With Shaparenko conducting proceedings from midfield and striker Artem Dovbyk stretching the home defence, you could see the confidence draining from the Irish players.

Once again the Boys in Green just could not put the ball in the net with Irish manager Stephen Kenny saying after the game

“We’re hurting at the moment and we don’t have time for that because such is the quick turn-around here. We’ve got to get ourselves ready for Scotland.”

Ukraine coach Oleksandr Petrakov said:

“Clearly this is a very difficult time when Ukrainians come to see us playing in Ireland. Our people were accepted by this incredible hospitality by the Irish people. You guys took our women and children, who were risking their lives back in Ukraine and I want to extend our gratitude to the whole of Ireland. For the Ukraine people in the stands today, all they wanted to see was just a bit of positivity from our team. But at the same time they’re really longing to go home. Go back to Ukraine and we made them a little bit happier tonight. That is the major achievement in my view.”

Scotland will be rubbing their hands together and really thinking of getting all three points on Saturday in Dublin, with a record of no wins in 12 Nations league fixtures for Ireland so far it is not looking great for Stephen Kenny and his men in green.