EURO 2025 (U-17): Ukraine edged out by Belgium in Round 1 final match

15.10.2024 17:59

In the final match of EURO 2025 Round 1, the Ukraine U-17 team (players born in 2008 or later) faced Belgium.

The Blue and Yellow squad had already secured their place in Round 2 after victories over Kosovo (4:2) and Kazakhstan (3:0). Today in Genk, Yuriy Moroz's team competed with the hosts for the top spot in the group.

In the 9th minute, the opponents took the lead as Muteba scored from the edge of the penalty area. Ukraine had their chances, including a near miss by Kaluyzhnyi, a save from the Belgian goalkeeper on Zubriy’s shot, and off-target attempts by Slyva and Zudin. Meanwhile, Belgian striker Muteba tested Krapivin twice.

At the start of the second half, Petrovskyi struck from distance, hitting the target. Belgium responded with Fernandez hitting the post. In the 59th minute, Ukraine equalized when Zudin scored on the rebound after Shyshkevych's shot. Later, Shyskevych, Slyva, and Dzhurabaiev threatened the Belgian goal, but Evers managed to save them all. Krapivin then made a double save after shots from the opponents.

However, in the 90th minute, Da Silva secured the victory for Belgium with a precise shot from outside the penalty area, making it 2:1. As a result, the Ukraine youth team advanced to Round 2 from second place in the group, with the draw scheduled for December.

EURO 2025 (U-17). Round 1. Group 4

October 9, 2024

Kosovo — Ukraine — 2:4

Belgium — Kazakhstan — 3:1

October 12, 2024

Ukraine — Kazakhstan — 3:0

Belgium — Kosovo — 2:1

October 15, 2024

Ukraine (U-17) — Belgium (U-17) — 1:2 (0:1)

Goals: Zudin (59) — Muteba (9), Da Silva (90).

Ukraine (U-17): Krapivin, Solomon, Tkachenko, Onishchuk, Kaluyzhnyi (Zalypka, 84), Kutya (Dzhurabaiev, 46), Lyusin (Petrovskyi, 46), Slyva (Menshikov, 74), Shyshkevych (Andreyko, 80), Zudin, Zubriy.

Belgium (U-17): Evers, Rivera, Jonkers, Kapers, Darkon, Hamdavi (De Vannemaker, 61), Traore (Oyatambwe, 79), L. Fernandez (Da Silva, 61), Kamara (Silla, 61), Muteba, Murentsi.

Booked: Lyusin (11), Onishchuk (50), Andreyko (90+2) — Silla (62), Da Silva (90+4).

Kazakhstan — Kosovo — 4:4

Standings

Results of the EURO 2024/2025 U-17 qualifying round draw

Group 1: England, Sweden, Latvia, Malta.

Group 2: Poland, Slovenia, Georgia, Armenia.

Group 3: Netherlands, Croatia, Albania, Faroe Islands.

Group 4: Belgium, Ukraine, Kosovo, Kazakhstan.

Group 5: Portugal, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, Liechtenstein.

Group 6: Hungary, Greece, Romania, Azerbaijan.

Group 7: Germany, Czechia, Belarus, Andorra.

Group 8: Ireland, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Lithuania.

Group 9: Italy, Norway, Wales, San Marino.

Group 10: Switzerland, Israel, Montenegro, Moldova.

Group 11: France, Slovakia, Cyprus, Gibraltar.

Group 12: Spain, Iceland, North Macedonia, Estonia.

Group 13: Serbia, Turkiye, Bulgaria.

Group 14: Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg.

The top two teams from each group advance to the second round of qualifiers. Following this, 28 teams will compete in seven groups in League A in spring 2025 for seven spots in the final tournament, to be held in Albania in the summer. The host team automatically qualifies, although they will still participate in the qualifiers.

The remaining teams in the second round will compete in League B, aiming for spots in League A of the first qualifying stage for EURO 2027 (U-19).

It's worth noting that EURO 2024/2025 (U-17) serves as UEFA's qualifying tournament for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup, featuring 48 teams in Qatar.