The match: 2-1
Ukraine waited a long time before being able to take the lead against Slovakia (2-1) this Friday. The opener, however, rewarded the Slovak domination at the start of the match, with a fifth shot in just over a quarter of an hour which allowed them to take the advantage. A throw-in on the left was followed by a lofted cross from Lukas Haraslin. Abandoned from the marking of Alexandre Zinchenko, Ivan Schranz concluded with a dive header (1-0, 17th). This is his second achievement in the competition, after the victory against Belgium on Monday (1-0).
Francesco Calzone’s players then stopped playing completely. They left the ball and the opportunities to Ukraine. More incisive in a new system and relaunched by four changes, Zbirna created several chances: a post from Georgui Soudakov (33rd), a situation harvested by Mikhaïlo Moudrik (34th), a well-placed free kick from Zinchenko and a header poorly done by Artem Dovbik (51st).
Until this goal, liberating, long awaited and so symbolic. The first in the Euro for Ukraine, the second in selection for Mikola Chaparenko (see elsewhere). At the end of a counter-attack led by Moudrik, Zinchenko made up for his mistake on the Slovenian goal and sent a strong cross low to the ground, victoriously taken over by the Dynamo kyiv midfielder (1-1, 54th) .
4
Ukraine’s victory against Slovakia is the 4th match where a team has won after conceding the first goal during this Euro, as many as in the entire previous edition.
Ten minutes before the end of the match, Roman Iaremtchouk, who came on as a substitute, subtly controlled a lobbed pass transmitted by the other scorer of the day, before slipping the ball into the back of the net (2-1, 80th).
Ukraine, much more exciting than against Romania (0-3), pockets its first victory and returns to the level of the latter as well as Slovakia in group E. With only one match played, before its next meeting against at Romania (Saturday at 9 p.m.), Belgium is currently the only team in the group with zero points.
The player: Shaparenko, liberator of Ukraine
Holder but disappointing during the heavy defeat against Romania (0-3), Chaparenko had left his place on the hour mark to Roman Iaremtchouk. This time, the 25-year-old remained on the field until added time. Placed to the right of the double pivot, the midfielder suffered a lot like his team at the start of the match. Then he got up with his people. Mounted on Moudrik’s counter-attack, he positioned himself perfectly to receive Zinchenko’s cross and open the scoring. At the end of the match, he placed a lofted ball for the man who had replaced him on Monday. A pass which proved decisive, and which allowed Zbirna to finally launch their Euro.
