Ukraine were the victors in a 3-1 win to end Scotland’s World Cup hopes and set up a final play-off game with Wales.
Scotland had the unenviable task of knocking neutral’s favourite Ukraine out of the World Cup qualifiers at Hampden Park. And there was plenty of emotion on display for the anthems at the start of the game with the visitors all draped in Ukrainian flags.
It was the Ukrainian team who started much the better of the two sides with Craig Gordon needing to be called into action. Andriy Yarmolenko forced a fine block out of the Scotland goalkeeper (who also did well to stop it creeping over the line) with 15 minutes gone in the match.
When the goal eventually came it was route one football. A long ball up and over from Ruslan Malinovskyi fell to the feet of Yarmolenko, the West Ham man did well to control and lift the ball over Gordon to make it 1-0 to Ukraine after 33 minutes.
There was no change in Ukraine’s dominance after the break and it was 2-0 just minutes after the restart.
Oleksandr Karavaev sent in a cross from the right into a Scotland box with five Ukraine players waiting. Benfica forward Roman Yaremchuk got his head to it, guiding the ball into the far corner.
Scotland fans were getting increasingly frustrated as the team in blue and yellow pressed for a third goal to put the tie beyond doubt.
Steve Clarke’s team steadily improved and pulled one back in the 79th minute. Georgiy Bushchan didn’t deal with a cross, only able to get a hand to it. The ball fell into the path of Callum McGregor whose shot looked like it had been cleared off the line by Mykola Matvienko. But the referee checked his watch to give the goal and give Scotland hope.
As Scotland pushed and pushed they were eventually caught on the break in the final second of the game. Artem Dovbyk was free to run on goal and slot the ball past Gordon to put Ukraine through at Scotland’s expense and set up a huge game on Sunday against Wales.
FULL TIME: Scotland 1-3 Ukraine.
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) June 1, 2022
Callum McGregor's goal late in the second half was not enough for Scotland, as Ukraine win at Hampden Park.#SCOUKR pic.twitter.com/xw6EjUunKR
1-3 | ||
Callum McGregor 79' | Andriy Yarmolenko 33' Roman Yaremchuk 49' Artem Dovbyk 90' |
