Ukraine has qualified for the final of the play-offs for a World Cup ticket at the expense of Scotland on Wednesday. An emotionally charged duel in Glasgow ended in 1-3.
Ukraine will face Wales in the final on Sunday, which settled with Austria in the other semi-final at the end of March. The winner qualifies for the World Cup in Qatar and plays in Group B against England, Iran and the United States.
Normally the European qualifying campaign for the World Cup would have been over, but because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, UEFA decided to postpone the decisive play-offs from March to June. The final will be played on June 5 in the Welsh capital Cardiff.
The emotions turned out not to have a paralyzing effect on the players of Ukraine in a packed Hampden Park on Wednesday. In the first hour, the visitors were lord and master. It resulted in goals from Andriy Yarmolenko and Roman Yaremchuk.
Scotland came back ten minutes before time via Callum McGregor, but was unable to prevent a defeat. Far into injury time, Artem Dovbyk even made it 1-3.
The players entered the field with Ukrainian flags wrapped around their shoulders.
The players entered the field with Ukrainian flags wrapped around their shoulders. Photo: AP
Ukraine players enter the field with flags
Midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko tearfully told the press conference on Tuesday that the players want to give the population “a sense of happiness” by getting a World Cup ticket. By entering the field with Ukrainian flags around their shoulders, just before kick-off, the players showed that they are mainly focused on the situation in their own country.
After the starting signal from referee Danny Makkelie, Ukraine immediately radiated that it was on a mission. Yarmolenko expressed the dominance after half an hour in a nice opening goal. The captain scored with a lob over goalkeeper Craig Gordon.
Early in the second half Yaremchuk doubled the lead. The match seemed to be over, until McGregor scored the connecting goal in the 79th minute. The Scots insisted, but were unable to equalize. Ukraine closed the game in injury time via substitute Dovbyk.
Ukraine last participated in the World Cup in 2006 and then stranded in the quarter-finals. Wales was last on the highest global podium in 1958.
For users of the app: click on the tweet to view Ukraine’s beautiful opening goal.