The latest edition of the Nations League began at the end of September. The Ukraine national team are competing in League B, where their opponents are the national teams of Georgia, Hungary and Northern Ireland.
On Friday, September 25, the Blue and Yellows played their first match of the group stage. Andrea Maldera’s side faced Hungary, who hosted Ukraine in Budapest at the Puskás Arena.
Ukraine started the match actively, pressing their opponents high, but the first dangerous chance fell to Hungary: after a pass from Szoboszlai, Lukács shot on the turn, and only the frame of the goal saved the Blue and Yellows – the ball hit almost the crossbar. Soon after, Bolla somehow fired over the goal from point-blank range, one meter out, following another pass from Szoboszlai. For our team, we can mention long-range efforts from Sikan, Sudakov and Brazhko.
In the second half of the opening period, after a mistake in our team’s defense, Mykolenko had to clear the ball almost off the goal line at the last moment. Ukraine punished their opponents for this moment by successfully finishing their next attack: after a wonderful pass from Sudakov on the left, Sikan headed the ball into the net from the center of the penalty area – 0:1.
In the second half, the initiative belonged to Hungary, who had more possession and moved the game into the Blue and Yellows’ half, while Ukraine relied more on counterattacks and did not commit large numbers of players forward. Krasnopir came closest to doubling the lead, when Ocheretko’s excellent pass from deep put him one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but he was unable to beat the keeper.
Almost immediately, Tsyhankov delivered a superb cross into the penalty area for Matviyenko, but Mykola hit the outside of the net. Riznyk was also kept busy, especially towards the end of the match, but our national team’s defense managed to hold on.
Thus, the final score was 1:0 – Ukraine began their Nations League campaign in League B with a victory and earned their first three points in the standings.
The aforementioned midfielder Volodymyr Brazhko took part in the match, starting the game and being substituted at half-time, as he had received a yellow card.
Midfielder Andriy Yarmolenko and forward Matviy Ponomarenko remained on the bench. Three other players from our team called up for the Nations League matches – defender Taras Mykhavko, midfielders Oleksandr Pikhalonok and Mykola Shaparenko – were left out of the matchday squad.
The group stage will run until mid-November, and the Blue and Yellows will play three more matches in the near future. On September 28, Ukraine will face Georgia away, on October 2 they will play a nominally home match against Northern Ireland, and on October 5 they will host Hungary.
Nations League. Group B
September 25. Budapest. Puskás Arena
Hungary – Ukraine – 0:1 (0:1)
Ukraine: Riznyk, Krupskyi (Bondar, 59), Zabarnyi, Matviyenko (c), Mykolenko, Brazhko (Nazaryna, 46), Ocheretko, Sudakov (Drambaiev, 90+1), Tsyhankov, Vanat (Nazarenko, 59), Sikan (Krasnopir, 66).
Goal: Sikan (42)
Booked: Schäfer (5), Barany (82), Szoboszlai (90+4), Kerkez (90+4) – Brazhko (21), Krupskyi (50), Nazarenko (71), Tsyhankov (90+4), Matviyenko (90+4).
Sent off: Nazarenko (90+2, second booking).
