On Monday, 29 June, Ukraine U19 national team began its Euro 2026 (U19) final tournament campaign, which is being held in Wales.
Yellow-Blues faced Croatia in their opening Group B match. Both sides fully understood the importance of the first game so opening minutes were played cautiously. However, midway through the first half the teams exchanged goals. Croatia took the lead in the 22nd minute when Mylokost carelessly brought down Shutalo with a sliding challenge inside the penalty area and Baric converted the resulting penalty. Four minutes later, though, the score was level. The only Dynamo representative in the Yellow-Blues’ starting lineup, Lusin, delivered a corner kick, and the goalkeeper failed to stop Bohdanov’s header.
Immediately after the break Dmytro Mykhailenko’s side went in front. Liusin launched a fine attack by sending Bohdanov through down the right flank. The striker’s effort, as well as Sykut’s follow-up, was blocked but goalkeeper was unable to deny Kaliuzhnyi's strike from close range.
Soon afterwards, the Yellow-Blues extended their lead, with Dynamo’s Liusin getting on the scoresheet himself by finding the corner of the net with a long-range strike.
Croatia refused to accept defeat and pushed forward, but Domchak was outstanding in goal, producing brilliant saves to deny Mandic and Shutalo from close range. Then, in stoppage time, when the Ukrainian goalkeeper was finally beaten, the post came to Ukraine’s rescue following Shutalo’s header.
It should also be noted that another Dynamo player, Hubenko, came off the bench for the final ten minutes, helping Ukraine see out the opening match of the Euro 2026 (U19) final tournament for a 3:1 victory.
Euro 2026 (U19). Group B. Matchday 1
Croatia – Ukraine – 1:3 (1:1)
Croatia: 12. Grahovac – 2. Mikic, 4. Zebic (c), 5. Puljic, 3. Mandic – 14. Subotic (6. Zrilic, 58), 18. Smiljanic, 11. Celfi (8. Bakovic, 58), 10. Covic (7. Simic, 79) – 16. Shutalo, 9. Baric (19. Kusanovic, 58).
Ukraine: 1. Domchak – 2. Kokodyniak (14. Hubenko, 79), 18. Mylokost, 5. Dihtiar (c), 13. Malov – 6. Soroka, 8. Liusin, 17. Kamenskyi (15. Ihnatkov, 79), 3. Kaliuzhnyi (9. Popov, 71), 11. Sykut (19. Hliut, 70) – 7. Bohdanov.
Goals: Baric (22, pen.) – Bohdanov (26), Kaliuzhnyi (48), Liusin (57).
In the other Group B Matchday 1 fixture, Italy defeated Serbia 2:0 (Liberali 11 pen., Iddrissu 76). Yellow-Blues will play their next match against Serbia on Thursday, 2 July.
Photo: UAF
