U-21 Euro 2009 Qualifying. Liechtenstein – Ukraine 1-3. Antonov’s double

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Liechtenstein – Ukraine 1-3

Goals: Hasler 75 - Antonov 45, 66, Pryyomov 90

Ukraine: Shust, Dopilka, Mandzyk, Chyzhov, M. Pashayev, Morozyuk (Yaroshenko, 77), Stepanenko, Lyopa, Kravchenko (Oliynyk, 90), Pryyomov, Antonov

On Wednesday, October 17th, Ukraine U-21 team got its third victory in the qualifying tournament for Euro 2009 (U-21). In the small town of Eschen Olexiy Mykhaylichenko’s boys defeated Liechtenstein. The game was not as easy for our team as it was expected. However a double by Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Olexiy Antonov and late goal by Volodymyr Pryyomov secured the win for Ukrainian U-21 team that still has the chances to reach the play-offs of the continental championship.

Ukrainians weren’t expecting the encounter with the outsider to be simple and it could be seen from the behaviour of the head coach who once again had to watch the game from the stands. Olexiy Mykhaylichenko looked tense and very concentrated before the match. However the coach’s mood did not seem to affect his players. Although Ukrainians were in control since start of the game their attacks were too slow. Narrow pitch also complicated their task.

Despite the lack of team speed Ukrainians made Liechtenstein keeper worry from time to time. Kravchenko conducted our attacks and sometimes shot from afar. His teammate Lyopa helped actively him in that. This couple created a hundred-percent chance on 14 minutes. Kravchenko found himself with only goalkeeper to beat but decided to pass the ball to his partner who unfortunately missed.

Ukrainians had a lot more chances but somehow failed to convert them to goals. Sometimes they missed, sometimes the goalkeeper showed his class. However despite Liechtenstein’s resistance Ukrainians managed to open the score at the end of the first half. Olexiy Antonov received the ball from the flank and put it into the upper corner of the goal.

After the break Ukrainians became much faster and began to use more short passing. There were more chances near Liechtenstein goal and they naturally turned into goals. First of them was again by Antonov after Lyopa’s elegant pass.

The second goal relaxed our boys completely. This led to some childish mistakes one of which ended with the goal. Ukrainian defenders decided that the opponent striker was offside and stopped. However the linesman did not flag and Daniel Hasler easily outplayed Bohdan Shust. The end of the game forced Ukrainian fans and coaches to worry but Volodymyr Pryyomov dotted all i's at the third minute into the injury time. He dribbled his way into the box and put the ball past the keeper.

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