Today, March 23, the youth national team of Ukraine (players not older than 2005) continued to fight in the elite round of the Euro-2024 U-19 selection.
Euro-2024 U-19. Elite round of selection. Group 7
Ukraine U-19 - Latvia U-19 - 3: 0 (1: 0)
Goals: Ponomarenko (34, 60, from the penalty spot), Tuterov (89).
Ukraine: Krapyvtsov, Husev, Melnychenko, Yermachkov, Drozd (Stryukov, 90), Krevsun (Shevchenko, 90), Vashchenko, Hajiyev (Tsukanov, 67), Synchuk, Ponomarenko (Dubrovny, 74), Matkevich (Tuterov, 67).
Latvia: Chevers, Tikhonovics, Purce, Smirnovs, Liepiņš (Lormānis, 84), Kangars (Valutadatils, 67), Jese, Yamonts, Grabovskis (Barkovskis, 84), Bočs (Ivulans, 61), Evelons (Mežsargs, 61).
"The Blue and Yellows made a successful start in the group, beating the hosts of the mini-tournament 2-0. Today, in Skopje, Macedonia, our team faced their peers from Latvia.
In the first half, the Ukrainians faced serious resistance from their opponents. At the beginning, Ponomarenko scored an inaccurate shot, and in the 18th minute, Evelons was in a striking position, but Krapivtsov saved. "The Blue and Yellows responded with a new shot by Ponomarenko, which was blocked at the last moment. Subsequently, Synchuk tested the keeper from the penalty line.
In the 34th minute, our team took the lead - after Matkevych's throw forward, Ponomarenko moved to the centre and hit the bottom left corner of the goal. Later on, Krevsun, Synchuk and Gadzhiev had chances to score, while the Latvians had a shot on target by Yamonts.
At the beginning of the second half, Matkevych tested the keeper from a distance. In the 60th minute, Ponomarenko doubled the Blue and Yellows' lead by converting a penalty, which he earned himself. At the end of the match, the Latvians could have reduced the deficit, but our team was saved by the post. Then Tuterov could have scored, but he missed a one-on-one with the keeper.
In the 89th minute, Tuterov took advantage of a throw-in from Vashchenko, entered the penalty area and scored Ukraine's third goal. So Dmytro Mykhailenko's men celebrated a 3-0 victory. Our guys will play the final match of the elite round against Switzerland on 26 March. A draw will be enough for the Ukrainians to finish first in the group and qualify for the Euros.
Switzerland - North Macedonia 2: 0