On Thursday, 21 March in one of the semifinal matches of the play-off round of the Euro 2024 qualifying cycle, the national team of Ukraine met away with the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Euro 2024. Qualifying cycle, play-off round, way "B", 1/2 final
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA - UKRAINE - 1:2 (0:0)
Goals: Matvienko (57, own goal) - Yaremchuk (85), Dovbik (88)
Warnings: Kolasinac (9), Gazibegovic (26), Ahmedhodzic (79), Kovacevic (90+4) - Matvienko (16), Konoplya (59), Yaremchuk (90+1).
Ukraine: 23.Lunin - 2.Konoplya, 13.Zabarny, 22.Matvienko, 16.Mykolenko - 14.Brazhko (9.Yaremchuk, 80), 17.Zinchenko (K) (8.Malinovskyi, 76) - 20.Zubkov (19.Gutsulyak, 76), 7.Sudakov, 10.Mudryk, - 11.Dovbik (4.Taloverov, 90+2).
Substitutes: 1.Buschan, 12.Trubin, 3.Mikhailichenko, 5.Sidorchuk, 6.Shaparenko, 15.Bondar, 18.Vanat, 21.Tymchik.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: 12.Šehic, 16.Ahmedhodjic (19.A.Kovacevic, 82), 3.Hadzikadunic, 5.Kolasinac, 7.Dedic (2.Civic, 67), 13.Cimirot, 20.Hajradinovic (10.Pjanic, 82), 8.Krunic, 4.Gazibegovic, 23.Demirovic, 11.Dzeko (K).
Reserves: 1.Vasil, 22.Piric, 6.Bašić, 9.Prevljak, 14.Varešanović, 15.Tabaković, 17.Rahmanović, 18.Husseinbasic, 21.Mujakic.
Match transcript and statistics >>>
Post-match press conference >>>>
As expected, the match was very hard fought and there was no clear favourite. The Bosnians were impeccable in defence, effectively imposing the fight, and at the same time, time after time they "played back" in the counter-attack, which made the Ukrainians, who had big problems in terms of creativity in attacking actions, noticeably nervous.
As a result, in the first half of the game there was not a single scoring moment. However, in one of the episodes Konoplya knocked the ball almost from the goal line, and in another - Kolasinac, who joined the attack of his team, shot unhindered from the corner of the goalkeeper's area, but directed the ball far above the goal.
Anyway, the first half ended with the score 0:0.
After the break, the Ukraine national team played much more active, but to the actual sharpness at the gates of the opponent did not bring the matter. But the Bosnians on 57 minutes managed to succeed in an innocuous situation: Dedic broke into the penalty area of the "blue and yellow" on the right, shot at the spot in front of the goal, the ball hit Matvienko and bounced into the net - 1:0.
After conceding, the Ukraine national team, of course, rushed to get back, but it was not to be: the Bosnians still played very reliable and calm in defence. As a result, the first goal moment in the second half, the guests created only in the 78th minute of the meeting - it was Mudryk dangerously shot from outside the penalty area, but the goalkeeper of the Bosnian team managed to cover the ball. However, the hosts also had a chance to score a goal: Demirovic shot from the goalkeeper's line and only Lunin's brilliant reaction saved the Ukraine national team from the second missed goal.
However, in the 85th minute of the game the Ukrainians managed to equalise: Konoplya broke through on the right flank, shot into the centre of the penalty area, where Yaremchuk sent the ball into the gate of the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina - 1:1. Three minutes later, the visitors managed to realise their attack from the left flank: this time, Yaremchuk crossed, and Dovbik struck from the goalkeeper's line, leaving no chance for the Bosnian goalkeeper - 2:1.
In the other semi-final of the play-offs of the "B" route, Iceland defeated Israel 4-1. Thus, in the final of this way play-offs voucher to the final part of the European Championship will play the national teams of Ukraine and Iceland. This match will take place next Tuesday, 26 March, in Wroclaw.
Alexander POPOV
