EURO 2025 (U-21): Ukraine secures eighth consecutive win with away victory over Northern Ireland

10.09.2024 23:55

Today, the Ukraine U-21 team played their next match in the EURO 2025 (U-21) qualifying tournament against Northern Ireland.

On September 6th, in Riga, Unai Melgosa's team defeated Serbia 2:1. This victory marked their seventh win in seven qualifying matches and secured at least a playoff spot.

Photo by Anatoliy Riepin

Today’s match took place in Ballymena at the Showgrounds Stadium against Northern Ireland. Ukraine started strong, with Ocheretko winning the ball on the right wing in the 10th minute, playing it to Voloshyn in the box, who tapped it into the near corner.

Twenty minutes later, Bragaru played a one-two on the right side of the penalty area with Yarmolyuk, dribbled past the goalkeeper and defender, and scored into an open net to make it 2:0. Seven minutes later, Krasnopir attempted a shot from the left side, but the goalkeeper saved it and deflected the ball out for a corner.

At the start of the second half, Northern Ireland had a chance, but Salyuk blocked Magee's shot from the left side of the box. In the 80th minute, Batagov struggled with the ball in front of his penalty area and was pressured by Allen, leading to a foul and a red card for the Ukrainian defender, giving the opponents a penalty.

Photo by Anatoliy Riepin

Allen converted the penalty by striking into the left corner. Ukraine secured a 2:1 win, marking their eighth consecutive victory in the qualifiers.

EURO 2025 (U-21). Qualifying Tournament. Group F

Northern Ireland (U-21) — Ukraine (U-21) — 1:2 (0:2)

Goals: Allen (81, penalty) — Voloshyn (10), Bragaru (30).

Northern Ireland (U-21): Charles, Forbes, Donnelly, Fogarty, Stewart (McKiernan, 46), Devenny, Robinson (Magee, 46), Devlin, Allen, Taylor (Lasty, 73), Kelly (Crowe, 62).

Ukraine (U-21): Neshcheret, Smolyakov (Roman, 85), Batagov, Salyuk, Krupskyi, Yarmolyuk (Melnychenko, 73), Varfolomeyev (Rubchynskyi, 55), Ochertko, Voloshyn (Kvasnytsia, 85), Krasnopir (Horbach, 72), Bragaru.

Referee: Oliver Reitala (Finland).

Booked: Forbes (4) — Rubchynskyi (88).

Sent off: Batagov (80).

September 10th, Ballymena. Showgrounds Stadium.

Standings

September 7, 2023

Northern Ireland - Luxembourg - 0:1

September 11, 2023

Luxembourg - England - 0:3

September 12, 2023

Ukraine - Northern Ireland - 1:0

Serbia - Azerbaijan - 2:0

October 12, 2023

Azerbaijan - Northern Ireland - 0:1

Luxembourg - Ukraine - 0:3

England - Serbia - 9:1

October 16, 2023

Ukraine - England - 3:2

Northern Ireland - Serbia - 1:2

October 17, 2023

Azerbaijan - Luxembourg - 3:2

November 17, 2023

Ukraine - Luxembourg - 4:0

November 18, 2023

Serbia - England - 0:3

November 21, 2023

Ukraine - Azerbaijan - 1:0

Serbia - Luxembourg - 2:0

England - Northern Ireland - 3:0

March 23, 2024

Azerbaijan - England - 1:5

Luxembourg - Serbia - 1:1

March 26, 2024

Azerbaijan - Ukraine - 0:3

Serbia - Northern Ireland - 1:2

England - Luxembourg - 7:0

September 6, 2024

Luxembourg - Azerbaijan - 2:0

Northern Ireland - England - 0:0

Ukraine - Serbia - 2:1

September 10, 2024

Northern Ireland - Ukraine - 1:2

Azerbaijan - Serbia - 0:2

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).