Today at the Yerevan Football Academy stadium, Ukraine's youth national team played their final group stage match in the Euro-2023 (U-21) qualification tournament — against Armenia. 

For both teams, the match had no significance from a standings perspective. Armenia was firmly at the bottom of the table, while Ukraine secured second place after their previous game against France. Therefore, one could only talk about prestige and points for the coefficient used during the draw.

From the first minutes of the match, Ukraine's team took control. The ball was much more often near Armenia's penalty area. However, there were no truly dangerous moments in front of the hosts' goal. By halftime, Armenia had evened out the game. Moreover, they scored a goal but it was disallowed for offside.

The Ukrainians responded with an unsafe shot from Zhelezko, but the ball went past the goalkeeper's post. A promising moment came for Kukharevich, but his shot also did not find its way into the net.

During halftime, Ruslan Rotan had to make adjustments. Our team again pushed forward and on the 49th minute opened the score with a set piece. Zhelezko delivered a corner kick, and Kulyev, winning an aerial duel against Mirzoyan, headed the ball into the goal. 0:1. And on the 68th minute, Vovcharenko became the hero of the episode with the scored goal, initiating and finishing off the attack with a precise shot into the bottom corner. 0:2. We should also note Kulyev's assist.

Armenia occasionally troubled Fesyun with their shots, but the goalkeeper was like a rock. In conclusion, the game ended with a convincing victory for Ukraine's national team.

So now the team is waiting for the draw of the Euro-2023 (U-21) playoff qualification matches, which will take place on June 21. The full list of potential opponents will be finalized on June 14. The actual match-ups are scheduled for September this year.

Euro-2023 (U-21). Qualification tournament. Group H

12.06.2022

Armenia (U-21) — Ukraine (U-21) — 0:2 (0:0)

Goals: Kulyev (49), Vovcharenko (68).

Armenia (U-21): Karapetyan, Simonyan, Gubasarayan, Kazaryan, Manukyan (Ghalstyan, 77), Hamoyan (c), Shagoyan, Grigoryan (Akopyan, 77), Agasaryan (Mkrtchyan, 60), Mirzoyan, Oganessian (Tarakhchyan, 70).

Ukraine (U-21): Fesyun, Kapinus (Syts, 46), Taloverov (Dubko, 69), Bol, Vovcharenko, Zhelezko, Biloshovskyi (Sudakov, 46), Bragaru (Hlany, 46), Kulyev, Kukharevich (Alefirenko, 59), Supryaga.

Yellow cards: Hamoyan (59), Ghalstyan (90).

Referee: T. Owen (Wales).

Final standings

We remind you that in the final stage of Euro-2023 (U-21), 16 teams will participate — Romania and Georgia as hosts, plus 14 national teams joining them based on qualification results (nine group winners, the best team among second-placed teams, and four playoff winners from eight second-placed teams).

Current standings of second-place teams (as of June 12, 2022)

Points earned in matches against teams that finished sixth in their groups are not counted.

Playoff: September 20—27, 2022.

Final tournament: June/July 2023.

The group stage matches involving the 16 national teams will be held at four stadiums in Romania (two in Cluj-Napoca and two in Bucharest) and four in Georgia (in Batumi, Poti, and two in Tbilisi). The opening match of the tournament will take place in Romania, while the final will be played in Georgia.