On the night of Saturday, October 4, Ukraine’s U20 national team played their final group-stage match at the 2025 World Cup. Their opponent was Paraguay.
Both teams came into the game with identical records, having collected 4 points each. A draw would have been enough for Ukraine as Dmytro Mykhaylenko’s side had the advantage in fair play points (fewer disciplinary sanctions in previous matches).
The first half ended goalless, though Dynamo Kyiv’s Oleksii Husiev (currently on loan at Kudrivka) had a good chance from a corner but his header was blocked by a defender.
Immediately after the break, just 30 seconds into the second half, Ukraine took the lead when teammates set up defender Maksym Derkach, who fired into the net from inside the box. Paraguay equalized in the 69th minute: Miño Amarilla carried the ball half the pitch and struck powerfully into the far corner from the edge of the penalty area.
Ukraine’s winning goal came in the 80th minute thanks to Dynamo forward Matvii Ponomarenko, who had come on midway through the second half. Picking up the ball in midfield, he drove towards the penalty area and unleashed a precise shot from about 25 meters into the corner.
World Cup 2025 (U20), Group Stage
Ukraine – Paraguay – 2:1 (0:0)
Ukraine U20: Krapyvtsov, Husiev, Melnychenko (c), Kysil, Katrych, Shevchenko (Karaman, 90), Vashchenko (Budko, 77), Krevsun (Panchenko, 63), Dihtiar (Derkach, 46), Shakh, Pyshchur (Ponomarenko, 63).
Goals: Derkach (46), Ponomarenko (80) – Miño (69).
Thanks to this victory Ukraine U20 finished first in their group and now await their Round of 16 opponent – one of the teams that placed third in their groups.
