facebooktwittertelegramwhatsapp
copy short urlprintemail
+ A
A -
webmaster
DPA
Glasgow
Artem Dovbyk scored a late goal in extra time and secured Ukraine in the Euro 2020 quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over 10-man Sweden on Tuesday.
The game went into extra time after a 1-1 draw and Dovbyk shot the winner in the 121st minute. Ukraine, in their first Euro quarter-finals, will now face England in Rome.
The Three Lions advanced after a 2-0 win over Germany earlier on Tuesday.
Oleksandr Zinchenko opened the scoring for Ukraine after a great cross from Andriy Yarmolenko, who missed a great chance to extend the lead for his side before Sweden equalized shortly before the break.
In-form Emil Forsberg, who scored his fourth goal at the tournament, shot from distance to beat keeper Georgiy Bushchan and tie things up.
Forsberg then hit the post twice in the second half, while Ukraine also saw Serhiy Sydorchuk stopped by the woodwork.
Sweden were down to 10 men in the first half of extra time after Marcus Danielson saw a red card.
“Neither side wanted to lose so we got this drama at the end. With this performance and commitment, our team has deserved the love of the whole country,” Ukraine coach Andriy Shevchenko said.
It was the Swedish side who dominated the early stages of the game and had a double chance in the seventh minute. First, Forsberg got one shot away and then Albin Ekdal had his shot deflected behind the goal.
Ukraine responded as Yarmolenko had their first effort blocked by keeper Robin Olsen before Zinchenko broke the deadlock. Yarmolenko sent the ball across to the far post and Zinchenko blasted a left-foot shot giving Olsen no chance.
They could have extended their lead when Yarmolenko struck over the top after a Zinchenko free-kick. Instead, Ukraine saw Sweden equalize thanks to Forsberg. His shot from 25 metres flicked off Illia Zabarnyi and bounced up, out of reach of keeper Georgiy Bushchan.
The second half kicked off with Ukraine’s Serhiy Sydorchuk hitting the post and Forsberg doing the same just a minute later.
There was no time to rest as within three minutes Dejan Kulusevski forced Bushchan to make a superb save, Yarmolenko just inside the penalty area shot straight at Olsen and Forsberg hit the bar after a brilliant individual play.
“I thought we were the better team, we conceded an unnecessary goal and then hit the post and the crossbar. We deserved better, but that wasn’t to be today,” Forsberg said.
The game went into extra time and Sweden were down to 10 men after Danielson saw a red card for a late challenge on Artem Besedin, who had to be helped off the field and substituted.
“Of course it’s tough to play extra time outnumbered. We battled as a team and promised to not give up. Then with the last play, a cross and a header, they score. It’s incredibly tough,” Forsberg added.
Play from both sides was very careful and Sweden’s plan to defend their way to a penalty shootout seemed to work until fine cross by Zinchenko launched Dovbyk to head home a dramatic winner that was only official after a video review.
“We tried to control the game but it wasn’t that way from time to time. But the team has fully fulfilled our plan,” Shevchenko said.
Sweden coach Jan Adersson said he felt his side was “going to score in the end, but unfortunately it didn’t work out. The red card decided the game. It’s a painful defeat.”
copy short url   Copy
01/07/2021
237