EURO-2025 (U-21): Ukraine outplayed Azerbaijan in Baku encounter

26.03.2024 15:54

Today, on March 26th, in Baku, the Ukraine U-21 team played their next match in the Euro-2025 (U-21) qualification tournament against the Azerbaijani team.

Just four days ago, the blue-yellow squad played a friendly match against the Morocco U-23 team (1-0) in Antalya, Turkey. Now, our youth team arrived in Baku for an official game, entering the pitch as the group leader with five wins in five matches.

The blue-yellow team immediately seized the initiative, with Smolyakov and Krasnopir testing the goalkeeper, and Rubchynskyi shooting wide of the goal. The hosts responded with a shot from Jafarov. In the 25th minute, our team took the lead as Yatsyk finished a pass from Krupskyi after a corner kick.

Azerbaijan could have equalized when Akhundzade broke through the defense and faced Neshcheret, but Ruslan won the duel. Later, Batagov had a chance but his shot was weak. Just before halftime, Ocheretko doubled the lead for the guests, finishing a brilliant combination after a pass from Bragaru.

The game's course remained unchanged in the second half. In the 56th minute, after a cross from Ocheretko, Rubchynskyi scored the third goal for the blue-yellow team. Our team continued to create chances but settled for a final score of 3:0. It's the sixth consecutive victory for Unai Melgosa's team in the qualifiers!

Euro-2025 (U-21). Qualification tournament. Group F

Azerbaijan (U-21) - Ukraine (U-21) - 0:3 (0:2)

Goals: Yatsyk (25), Ocheretko (40), Rubchynskyi (56).

Azerbaijan (U-21): Ramazanov, Safarov, Mammadov, Guseynov (c), Damadayev, Akhmadov (Abbasov, 79), Veliev (Nasirli, 79), Safarov (Rzayev, 60), Abdurakhmanov (Gassanzade, 73), Jafarov (H. Aliev, 60), Akhundzade.

Substitutes: Samigullin, Suleymanli, Salanskiy, Ramazanov.

Coach: Samir Aliev.

Ukraine (U-21): Neshcheret, Krupskyi, Salyuk, Batagov (c), Smolyakov, Yatsyk, Rubchynskyi (Pavlyuk, 86), Ocheretko (Varfolomieiev, 74), Bragaru (Khlan, 57), Krasnopir (Horbach, 74), Voloshyn (Kvasnytsia, 86).

Substitutes: Kinareykin, Vivcharenko, Roman, Krushynskyi.

Coach: Unai Melgosa.

Referee: Dario Bel (Croatia).

Yellow cards: Safarov (42), Mammadov (64).

March 26th. Baku. Azersun Arena.

EURO 2025 (U-21) Qualifiers. Group F

September 7, 2023

Northern Ireland 0:1 Luxembourg

September 11, 2023

Luxembourg 0:3 England

September 12, 2023

Ukraine 1:0 Northern Ireland

Serbia 2:0 Azerbaijan

October 12, 2023

Azerbaijan 0:1 Northern Ireland

Luxembourg 0:3 Ukraine

England 9:1 Serbia

October 16, 2023

Ukraine 3:2 England

Northern Ireland 1:2 Serbia

October 17, 2023

Azerbaijan 3:2 Luxembourg

November 17, 2023

Ukraine 4:0 Luxembourg

November 18, 2023

Serbia 0:3 England

November 21, 2023

Ukraine 1:0 Azerbaijan

Serbia 2:0 Luxembourg

England 3:0 Northern Ireland

March 23, 2024

Azerbaijan 1:5 England

Luxembourg 1:1 Serbia

March 26, 2024

Azerbaijan 0:3 Ukraine

Serbia 1:2 Northern Ireland

England 7:0 Luxembourg

Standings

September 6, 2024

Luxembourg vs. Azerbaijan

Northern Ireland vs. England

Ukraine vs. Serbia

September 10, 2024

Northern Ireland vs. Ukraine

Azerbaijan vs. Serbia

October 11, 2024

England vs. Ukraine

October 12, 2024

Northern Ireland vs. Azerbaijan

October 15, 2024

Luxembourg vs. Northern Ireland

England vs. Azerbaijan

Serbia vs. Ukraine

Play-offs: November 11-19, 2024.

In the final stage of Euro 2025 (U-21), 16 teams will compete: Slovakia and 15 other national teams that will join based on the qualification results (nine group winners, three best teams among the second-place finishers, and three play-off winners among the six second-place finishers).