Today, November 15 Ukraine's youth team (football players born in or after 2005) began their campaign in the qualification round of Euro-2024 (U-19).

Coach Oleksandr Kuznetsov's wards are competing in Group 7 alongside Slovakia, Kosovo, and Malta. The mini-tournament will take place until November 21 in the Maltese city of Ta' Qali (Stadium "Centenary"). Our boys faced the hosts today.

Ukrainians opened the scoring in the 17th minute — Manuilov brilliantly executed a penalty kick from the left flank, sending the ball into the goal. Later, Tutyurov could have doubled the lead for the blue and yellow team, but Malta's goalkeeper saved his shot.

In the 55th minute, Ponomarenko missed an excellent chance to score after Tutyurov's cross. But shortly afterward, the hosts managed to equalize — following a corner kick by Barbara, Ponomarenko inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net.

However, just in the 71st minute, Ponomarenko scored again with a penalty shot that ricocheted off Attard, forcing Kamilleri to concede once more. Malta responded with a long-range shot by Barbara, which Fesyuk saved, and another dangerous attempt came from Kaiden Fenek.

And in the 88th minute, Ukraine scored their third goal — Melnychenko intercepted the ball on the right flank, advanced into the penalty area, and passed to Tutyurov, who calmly placed it in the far corner. The hosts created several opportunities afterward but ultimately could not prevent a victory for Oleksandr Kuznetsov's wards — 3:1.

Euro-2024 (U-19). Qualification Round. Group 7

November 15, 2023

Ukraine (U-19) — Malta (U-19) — 3:1 (1:0)

Goals: Manuilov (17), Attard (71, own goal), Tutyurov (88) — Ponomarenko (59, own goal).

Ukraine (U-19): Fesyuk, Ogarkov (Diky, 90), Mikhavko, Melnychenko, Gusiev, Mykhailiv (Yermachkov, 87), Vashchenko (Mikityuq, 64), Kremschanin, Manuilov (Salenko, 64), Tutyurov, Ponomarenko (Panchenko, 87).

Malta (U-19): Kamilleri, Vella (K. Fenek, 77), Farruja, Mikallef (Apap Bolonia, 72), Sherri, Chukunyere, Caruana, Barbara, Leonardi (M. Fenek, 65), Gatt, Debono (Attard, 65).

Yellow cards: Mikityuq (85) — Mikallef (70).

Kosovo — Slovakia — 1:1 (0:1)

Table

November 18, 2023

Ukraine — Kosovo (12:00)

Slovakia — Malta (15:30)

November 21, 2023

Slovakia  — Ukraine (12:00)

Malta — Kosovo (15:30)

Match times are in Kyiv time.

Qualification Group Composition for Euro-2024 (U-19)

Group 1: France, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia.

Group 2: Norway, Hungary, Latvia, Gibraltar.

Group 3: Serbia, Scotland, Bulgaria, Andorra.

Group 4: Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, Liechtenstein.

Group 5: Germany, Poland, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan.

Group 6: Spain, Georgia, Cyprus, Moldova.

Group 7: Ukraine, Slovakia, Kosovo, Malta.

Group 8: Turkey, Greece, Belarus, Lithuania.

Group 9: Israel, Croatia, Armenia, Faroe Islands.

Group 10: Czech Republic, Romania, Finland, San Marino.

Group 11: Netherlands, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg.

Group 12: England, Austria, Wales, Montenegro.

Group 13: Ireland, Belgium, Slovenia, Albania.

Winners of the first two places in each qualifying group and the best third-placed team based on results against the top two teams qualify for the elite round of qualification alongside Portugal. 

The Northern Ireland national team, as hosts, received a direct entry to the finals, which will take place in summer 2024. There they will also be joined by seven group winners from the elite round.