Friendly match. Ukraine (U-19) – Belarus (U-19) 4:1.

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Ukraine - Belarus 4:1 (Kravets, 20, 30, Yarmolenko, 32, Konoplyanka,47 - Trachinskiy, 70)

Ukraine (starting line-up): Kychak, Pinchuk, Kovalyov, Konshyn, Mikitsey, Petrov, Politylo, Martynyuk, Zozulya, Kravets, Yarmolenko.

Players in during second half: Sydorenko, Ablitarov, Nazarchuk, Sagaydak, Yavorskiy, Karnoza, Konoplyanka, Korkishko

Chernihiv may have used for such games as Ukrainian and Belorussian youth teams play friendly matches there regularly in last three years, but not to such extent that there would be just a handful of spectators in the stands! It’s sad. They could at least come to watch former Desna player Andriy Yarmolenko. By the way, stadium announcer repeatedly called Andriy a player who grew in Chernihiv, although he was born in Leningrad, attended football school in Kyiv and played for Desna for just three months.

As for line-ups, both teams turned out to lack a couple of key players. Oleksandr Lysenko didn’t bring to Chernihiv striker Yevhen Shahov (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk) and midfielder Oleg Mischenko (Dynamo Kyiv for now, but currently in Metalist). Visitors lost their main goalkeeper (the boy was invited to U-21 team) and Dynamo Kyiv forward Varankov who managed to get an invitation to Belarus national team.

The game lasted until the first goal. For the first 20 minutes teams were slowly passing the ball without creating anything of interest. Players managed to make just one shot on goal during that interval – sparse spectators applauded Andriy Yarmolenko for that.

In the middle of the first half Ukrainians became more active and it was immediately understood that the visitors won’t take anything from this match. First Martynyuk crossed in the free kick from the right flank and Kravets headed the ball into the net. In just two minutes Zozulya made a through pass to Martynyuk who went one-on-one and scored, but the goal was disallowed because of offside. On 25th minute Zozulya had a chance to score but hit the post from the right corner of the box. Then Kravets made the double, again with assistance from Martynyuk who performed almost all set pieces. After the corner kick Kravets was left alone in just one metre from the goal and had only to stick out his leg. And the next Ukrainian attack ended with Yarmolenko’s accurate shot. Now it was Kravets’ turn to make an assist in the manner of Serhiy Rebrov’s pass to Andriy Shevchenko in Dynamo Kyiv’s Champions League game against Bayern in Kyiv). Yarmolenko had only the keeper to beat and the score became 3-0. Zozulya had one more chance before halftime and hit the post once again from 20 metres. Kychak took almost no part in the game in the first half.

After the break there were only three Ukrainian players left from the starting eleven – Pinchuk, Konshyn and the team captain Zozulya. And the new team made the score 4-0 in their first attack. Konoplyanka intercepted a backpass from Belorussian defender, outplayed the keeper and scored the fourth goal. After that Ukrainians dropped their speed and allowed Belorussians to attack more often. One of such attacks ended with superb goal by Trachinskiy.

Ukrainians had some more opportunities to increase their lead until the end of the game but didn’t succeed. Artur Karnoza was the most active player in the second half, making good passes and hitting the bar once.

Now Ukraine prepares for U-19 Euro 2009 qualifying matches in the end of October where it will face Azerbaijan, Moldova and Scotland.

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