Women's EURO 2025: Ukraine secures last-minute draw in qualifier against Wales

04.06.2024 23:02

The Ukrainian Women's National Team continued their EURO 2025 qualifying campaign with another match against the Wales team.

Just a few days ago, the blue-yellows played to a draw (1:1) against the group leaders away. Now, the Ukrainian team hosted the Welsh in Poland, in the town of Grodzisk Wielkopolski.

As early as the 1st minute, Kelyushyk saved our team after Rowe's shot, and thereafter, Ukrainian players blocked several attempts by their opponents, with some misses by the Brits. Our team responded with a long shot by Khimich - the ball deflected into Clark's hands. Later, Shmatko prevented the opponents from scoring by clearing the ball off the goal line.

Overall, the Welsh team dominated possession, but it was the Ukrainians who opened the scoring in the 34th minute. Basanska excellently redirected to Ovdiychuk on the right flank, who entered the penalty area and passed to Kalinina for a precise shot.

Photo by Oksana Vasylieva

The second half also started with pressure from Wales, particularly in the 48th minute when Holland's cross hit the crossbar. Kelyushyk confidently dealt with all the balls. In the 70th minute, our team had a good chance, but Andrukhiv was denied the opportunity to shoot.

Unfortunately, Wales managed to turn the game around. First, Barton earned and converted a penalty herself, and then Fishlock scored an incredible long-distance strike.

In injury time, after Basanska's free-kick, Evans inadvertently deflected the ball into the post of her own goal. However, the Ukrainian team managed to secure a draw when Kozlova scored in the dying seconds after Apanashchenko's cross from the right flank.

Women's EURO 2025. Qualifying Tournament. League B. Group 4

Ukraine - Wales - 2:2 (1:0)

Goals: Kalinina (34), Kozlova (90+8) - Barton (74, penalty), Fishlock (77).

Ukraine: Kelyushyk, Petryk, Apanashchenko (c), Shmatko, Basanska, Semkiv, Andrukhiv (Kozlova, 85), Kalinina (Pantsulaya, 76), Khimich, Ovdiychuk (Malakhova, 85), Kravchuk (Hlushchenko, 63).

Coach: Volodymyr Pyatenko.

Wales: Clark, K. Jones (Makatir, 68), Ladd (c), Evans, Joel (Woodham, 68), Holland, Ingel, Rowe, James, Fishlock, Barton (Roberts, 85).

Coach: Ryan Wilkinson.

Referee: Caroline Lanssens (Belgium).

Yellow card: Holland (90+6).

June 4th. Grodzisk Wielkopolski. Respect Energy Stadium.

Croatia - Kosovo - 2:0

Standings

Matchday 5

12.07.2024

Kosovo - Ukraine

Croatia - Wales

Matchday 6

16.07.2024

Ukraine - Croatia

Wales - Kosovo

The results of the Women's Euro 2025 qualifying draw

League A

Group A1: Netherlands, Italy, Norway, Finland.

Group A2: Spain, Denmark, Belgium, Czechia.

Group A3: France, England, Sweden, Ireland.

Group A4: Germany, Austria, Iceland, Poland.

League B.

Group B1: Switzerland, Hungary, Turkey, Azerbaijan.

Group B2: Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Israel.

Group B3: Portugal, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Malta.

Group B4: Wales, Croatia, Ukraine, Kosovo.

League C.

Group C1: Belarus, Lithuania, Cyprus, Georgia.

Group C2: Slovenia, Latvia, North Macedonia, Moldova.

Group C3: Greece, Montenegro, Andorra, Faroe Islands.

Group C4: Romania, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Armenia.

Group C5: Albania, Estonia, Luxembourg.

The distribution of tickets for Euro-2025 takes place based on the results of the next league cycle. The teams compete in groups of four or three teams (League C). The eight best teams in League A (first and second places) immediately go to the final tournament. There they join the host country, Switzerland.

The remaining seven passes are to be played in two rounds of playoffs. In the one-way first round, the third- and fourth-placed teams in League A face the group winners and the top three second-placed teams in League C. The eight winners advance to the second round.

Elsewhere, the four group winners and the top two runners-up in League B play the remaining two runners-up and the four third-placed teams in League B. The six winners advance to the second round.

In the second round of the playoffs, 14 national teams directly play for seven tickets to the final tournament of Euro-2025, where a total of 16 participants play.

The paths of the teams in the play-off matches are to be adjusted, if necessary, taking into account the performances of Switzerland, which plays in League B, but will be represented at the Euro as the host country.

If Switzerland finishes first, second, or third in their B League group, the fourth-best team from that division will enter the playoffs.

Promotion and relegation

In parallel, teams will also compete for positions in the next Nations League, which begins the 2025-2027 cycle:

— winners, holders of second and third places in League A groups will remain in League A;

— the second-place winners and the three best third-place winners in League B groups will remain in League B;

— the winners of the second, third, and fourth places in the groups of League C will remain in League C;

— the winners of the groups in the B and C leagues will move to the higher division;

— the fourth-place finishers in League A and B groups, as well as the worst third-place finisher in League B, will be relegated.

Euro-2025 among women's teams. Calendar

Matches 1—2 rounds: April 3-9, 2024.

Matches 3—4 rounds: May 29 - June 4, 2024.

Matches 5—6 rounds: July 10-16, 2024.

Playoff draw: July 19, 2024

1st round of playoffs (2 matches): October 23-29, 2024.

2nd round of playoffs (2 matches): November 27 - December 3, 2024.

Final tournament draw: December 16, 2024.

Final tournament: July 2-27, 2025 (Switzerland).