On Tuesday, September 12, the youth national team of Ukraine held its opening match of the Euro 2025 (U-21) qualifiers - against the "youth" Northern Ireland.
Euro 2025 (U-21). Qualification tournament. Group F.
UKRAINE (U-21) - NORTHERN IRELAND (U-21) - 1 : 0 (0: 0)
Goal: Roman (70)
Ukraine (U-21): Neshcheret, Roman, Salyuk, Batagov, Smolyakov, Yarmolyuk (Pavlyuk, 89), Brazhko (K), Rubchynskyi, Bragaru, Viunnyk (Krasnopir, 68), Voloshyn (Kvasnytsia, 58).
Northern Ireland (U-21): McMullan, McClelland, Fogarty (McCausland, 84), Stewart, Forbes, Marshall (Mackie, 68), McDonnell, Johnston (C), McGuckin (Allen, 84), Kelly (Devlin, 75), McKiernan (Glynn, 75).
The Ukrainian team immediately took possession of the ball, but the opponents defended well. It was only in the 20th minute that Bragaru struck the first shot on target, and later he failed to hit the far corner. Subsequently, the Irish almost took advantage of Saluk's mistake, who unsuccessfully dumped the ball to Neshcheret, but Roman knocked the ball off the line. At the end of the first half, Marshall's long-range shot and Smolyakov's goal after a play with Rubchynskyi forced the goalkeepers to react.
The second half of the game began with a shot by Makgakin on target. The Ukrainians regained control of the ball, but there was no real danger at the opponent's goal. Instead, in the 63rd minute, Makgakin broke through on the left flank, entered the penalty area and shot into the near corner - Neshcheret saved.
However, substitutions from Unai Melgosa influenced the course of the game. In the 70th minute, a combination involving Kvasnytsia and Krasnoper was completed by Roman with an accurate shot from the penalty line - 1-0. At the end of the match, the Ukrainians made several more shots on goal, while the opponents failed to seriously disturb Neshcheret. So the blue and yellows will start with a victory.
Current standings in Group F:
1. England - 3 points
2. Serbia - 3
3.Ukraine - 3
4. Luxembourg - 3
5. Northern Ireland - 0
6. Azerbaijan - 0
We will add that the youth team will play its next matches in the Euro 2025 (U-21) qualifiers in October - against Luxembourg (12.10) and England (16.10).