Euro 2009 (U-21) qualifying. Ukraine - Czech Republic 0:2. The fairest result is on the scoreboard

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Ukraine. Zaporizhya. Slavutych Arena Stadium. Attendance: 7 000

Referee: Marijo Strahonja (Croatia)
Linesmen: Igor Krmar, Sinisa Premuzaj (both Croatia)

Ukraine U-21 0:2 Czech Republic U-21 Jeslinek 73, Rajtoral 83 Rybka, Dopilka, Pashaev, Chyhrynskiy, Lyopa (Priyomov 83), Stepanenko, Yaroshenko, Oliynyk, Vernydub, Antonov, Gladkiy Svenger, Reznik, Svec, Mazuch, Holek, Kudela, Suchy, Rajtoral (Gebreselassie 89), Smejkal, Strestik (Jeslinek 62), Fillo (Kalouda 82) Yellow cards: Stepanenko 45, Vernydub 50 Yellow cards: Svec 55, Fillo 58

U-21 teams are usually dark horses for a common supporter. However everybody know that last summer Czech Republic U-20 team became world vice-champions. Four players from that squad went on the pitch of Slavutych Arena this evening - Mazuch (who plays for Fiorentina!), Kudela, Suchy and Strestik. Obviously, Czech Republic are tough opponents for this country is known for their skill in young players training. Czech clubs do this for a living. Of course they haven't had any successes in club competitions for a long time, but their national team consists of key players of strong European clubs.

Of course Mykhaylichenko understood the strength of the opponents so nobody expected adventurous 3-5-2 formation that he used against Liechtenstein. Instead he opted for 4-4-2 and even selected two Zaporizhya players, Vernydub and Stepanenko, for the starting eleven.

Czechs attacked less often but their attacks were more dangerous. Their passes were more accurate but the finishing was poor. Visitors' shots were too weak and just allowed Rybka to stretch himself. Ukrainian attacks mostly led to banal crosses for Gladkiy and Antonov who were not the greatest in the air and won barely 5% of all high balls sent to them. Lyopa was noticeable mostly because his teammates kept passing to him but his dribbling which was OK against Liechtenstein proved to be too weak for Czech defenders.

However the impression after the first half was that Ukraine was able to win. The beginning of the second half was even more optimistic. Ukrainians started to play aggressively and locked visitors in their own half. Immediately Mykhaylichenko's team had their best chance of the match. Oliynyk went one-on-one with the keeper but smashed the ball into the side netting. Ukraine kept pushing forward and it seemed that the goal was inevitable.

However it was scored by visitors. In a counterattack Jeslinek got hold of the ball in the area and blasted it into the net off the bar. Everybody understood that it was unreal to score two goals in the remaining fifteen minutes. However it was quite possible to concede another one. First Ukrainian defenders failed to interrupt the cross from the flank, then Smejkal for some reasons was left alone in front of the goal. Rybka deflected his shot but Rajtoral came first to the rebound.

G W D L GD P Czech Republic 6 4 2 0 19-2 14 Ukraine 7 4 0 3 15-7 12 Turkey 4 3 1 0 8-4 10 Armenia 6 2 1 3 6-11 7 Liechtenstein 7 0 0 7 4-28 0

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