The only thing left for coach Oleksandar Petrakov’s team is Wales on Sunday (6:00 p.m.). The Welsh had buried the hopes of Austria’s team with a 2-1 win in Cardiff at the end of March.
Coach Petrakov said it was a victory for the compatriots who will fight to the last drop of blood. For the armed forces in the trenches, for those in the hospitals. This victory would show the gratitude. “I have no emotions, I let all emotions out on the pitch. This win is not for me, not for our players, but for our country, so it was a big win for Ukraine.”
The Ukrainians clearly had the better moments before the break and were rewarded for their much more active display in the 33rd minute. After an ideal long pass from Malinovsky, Andriy Jarmolenko took the ball down briefly and then skilfully lifted the Scottish goalkeeper Craig Gordon. Immediately after the restart, the preliminary decision seemed to have been made. After a Karawajew cross, striker Roman Yaremchuk (49th) headed in, he benefited from the fact that his opponents were not close enough.
Scotland must continue to wait
As the second half progressed, however, the home side vehemently pushed for the goal with the courage of desperation. It should have fallen by the 67th minute at the latest, but John McGinn headed wide from the best position. In addition, Che Adams failed at Georgij Buschtschan and McGinn’s follow-up shot was blocked (76th). A blunder by Buschtschan brought the hosts back into the game a little later. First he palmed a cross too short, then he was unable to hold a shot from Callum McGregor, who was playing with a face mask, from the penalty area, the Ukrainian rescue attempt passed behind the line (79th).
Despite efforts, the equalizer didn’t come, and “Joker” Artem Dowbijk (95th) made everything clear in the finish. This gives the Ukrainians reason to be happy, at least from a sporting point of view, in extremely difficult times due to the war with Russia. Scotland, on the other hand, have had to wait since 1998 to participate in the World Cup.
Source: Nachrichten
