Last Tuesday, September 30, the Ukrainian youth national team (U-20) played its second match at WC-2025 (U-20) against Panama.
WC-2025 (U-20). Group Stage. Group “B”. 2nd Round
PANAMA (U-20) — UKRAINE (U-20) — 1:1 (1:1)
Goals: Herrera (36) — Synchuk (6 pen.)
Panama (U-20): Burgess, Arroyo (c), Krug, Hall, Jones, E. Herbert, J. Herbert (E. Gomez, 86), Walters (R. Gomez, 86), Rice, Herrera (Kuranji, 75), Holder (Mosquera, 68).
Ukraine (U-20): Krapivtsov, Husev, Melnychenko (c), Kyrychenko, Vernattus (Dihtyar, 59), Synchuk, Budko (Vashchenko, 59), Krevsun, Derkach (Shakh, 46), Karaman (Shevchenko, 87), Pyshchur (Ponomarenko, 80).
As in the debut game, the Ukrainians managed to score a quick goal again. Already in the 3rd minute, the Panamanian defender Martin Krug fouled Oleksandr Pyshchur in his own penalty area. At first, Pyshchur decided to take the penalty himself, but his shot was saved by the goalkeeper. However, the goalkeeper left the goal line before the whistle, so the referee ordered the attempt to be repeated. This time, Hennadiy Synchuk approached the ball and confidently converted the penalty. 0:1.
Despite conceding a goal, the Panamanians continued to play defensively, focusing on counterattacks. Their opportunity came in the 36th minute: Holder avoided the pressure on the right flank and delivered a cross, Herrera anticipated Melnychenko and headed the ball into the net. 1:1.
The beginning of the second half was again more active for the Ukrainians, with even central defenders joining the attacking actions. In particular, Kyrychenko lacked a bit of precision. The players who came off the bench added extra sharpness. Vashchenko shot from distance, and Shakh had a great opportunity after a cross from Dihtyar but let the ball go near the goal area.
Yet despite all the efforts of the “blue and yellow” to snatch the victory, they could not score a second time. Ultimately, the match ended in a draw — 1:1.
After two matches, the charges of Dmytro Mykhailenko have four points. The next and final match of the group stage of the World Championship will be held on Friday, October 3, against the national team of Paraguay (kick-off at 23:00 Kyiv time).
In a parallel match of Group “B”, South Korea and Paraguay also played to a draw — 0:0.
Standings in Group “B” after the 2nd round:
1. Paraguay — 4 points
2. Ukraine − 4
3. Panama — 1
4. South Korea — 1.
