Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Friendly Games
Nigeria

Result: Ukraine end Scotland's World Cup dream with victory in Glasgow

sportsmole.co.uk, 1 June 2022, 20:39
Ukraine have recorded a 3-1 victory over Scotland at Hampden Park to move through to a World Cup playoff final with Wales.

The initial fixture in March was postponed - a result of Russia's military invasion of Ukraine - and it has resulted in football in a nation which has had war inflicted on them brought to an abrupt halt.

However, the lack of competitive football and emotions threatening to spill over would not deny Ukraine, who were deserved winners at Hampden Park.

While the opening stages of the contest were hotly contested, the visitors soon began to create the better chances, Scotland having to rely on goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

There was little that the veteran stopper could do to prevent Andriy Yarmolenko from giving his nation the lead in the 33rd minute, the recently-released West Ham United forward latching to a ball over the top to beautifully control and lob the ball over the advancing Gordon.

Scotland needed a response after half time but it was Ukraine who quickly doubled their advantage through Roman Yaremchuk, the forward towering over Aaron Hickey at the back post to send a header into the far bottom corner.

Even with over 40 minutes remaining, Scotland cut a deflated team, but to their credit, they rallied as the second half progressed with Ukraine stopper Heorhiy Bushchan fortunate to survive when his attempted clearance was charged down by Callum McGregor and went narrowly wide of the post.

John McGinn was also guilty of missing a sitter - the midfielder's header from three yards being directed off target - but Scotland capitalised on Ukraine missing chances to kill off the game by halving the deficit with 11 minutes remaining.

Buschan was again at fault, the goalkeeper letting a McGregor shot go through his fingers and marginally over the line, despite the best efforts of a defender.

However, despite more pressure being applied to the Ukrainian defence, the clear-cut chances dried up, and it was the visitors who looked more likely to add a third.

Perhaps fittingly, that occurred with the final kick of the game. Artem Dovbyk was released through on goal and with little pressure coming from Scotland's backtracking defenders, the substitute drilled the ball inside the near post.

Ukraine will now head to Cardiff for a showdown with Wales on Sunday, the winner of that fixture progressing through to the World Cup group stages where they would face England, United States and Iraq.

Top News

12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With their hopes of stealing the league crown hanging by a thread, Rangers will welcome an out-of-form Dundee side to Ibrox in their penultimate game of the Scottish Premiership season. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich are reportedly interested in signing Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton this summer. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Donny van de Beek's agent Guido Albers has confirmed that his client will be leaving Manchester United during this summer's transfer window, but a move to another Premier League club is not an option. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is confident that he will be fit for the Champions League final. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Xavi refused to offer any guarantees over the future of Ansu Fati when questioned on the Spain international during his press conference on Sunday. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk For the final time in a Liverpool tracksuit, Jurgen Klopp will be barking orders from a rival Premier League touchline on Monday, when the Reds trek to the West Midlands to scrap with Aston Villa at Villa Park. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord manager and incoming Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has provided an update on when Reds fans can expect an official announcement of his arrival at Anfield. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has insisted that his side have demonstrated their character on numerous occasions during a difficult season for the club. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool forward Luis Diaz has said that he is "very happy" at Anfield amid suggestions of a potential summer departure for the Colombia international. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The agent of Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski has insisted that the Poland international will remain at Camp Nou this summer, branding the speculation surrounding his future "fake news". 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are back in action on Wednesday evening when they square off against Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will again make changes to his starting side for Tuesday's La Liga clash with Alaves at Bernabeu. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be aiming to record a ninth straight victory in La Liga when they continue their domestic campaign at home to an in-form Alaves outfit on Tuesday night. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has praised his side for 'playing a different kind of football' to overcome Nottingham Forest. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be bidding to make it nine La Liga wins in a row when they welcome Alaves to Bernabeu on Tuesday night. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling has moved into the top 20 of the all-time Premier League top goalscorers list. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Girona's battle to secure second position in the La Liga table will continue on Tuesday evening, when they welcome European-chasing Villarreal to Estadi Montilivi. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Mallorca will be bidding to make it back-to-back victories in Spain's top flight when they head to Estadio El Sadar on Tuesday evening to face Osasuna. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly planning to make another move for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong during this summer's transfer window. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly been priced out of a summer move for Mason Greenwood, with Manchester United demanding €60m (£51. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United would reportedly have to pay out £10m to Erik ten Hag and his backroom staff if they decide to sack the Dutchman as manager before the end of the 2023-24 campaign. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United would reportedly have to pay out £10m to Erik ten Hag and his backroom staff if they decide to sack the Dutchman as manager before the end of the 2023-24 campaign. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Hoping that Tottenham Hotspur will be in no mood to do North London rivals Arsenal any sort of favours, Manchester City head to the capital to face Ange Postecoglou's side on Tuesday in the Premier League. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Still in with a shot of Champions League qualification, Tottenham Hotspur face their toughest remaining Premier League test at home to champions Manchester City on Tuesday night. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fenerbahce vs. Kayserispor (Sunday, 5.00pm) Fenerbahce will be hoping to return to winning ways when they host Kayserispor at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on Sunday evening in the Turkish Super Lig. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ajax vs. Almere City (Sunday, 1.30pm) Ajax play host to Almere City on Sunday afternoon looking for the win that may be enough to secure fifth position in the Eredivisie standings. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk PSG vs. Toulouse (Sunday, 8.00pm) Mourning their dreams of Champions League supremacy, Paris Saint-Germain continue their canter towards the Ligue 1 finish line when Toulouse arrive at the Parc des Princes on Sunday. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Darmstadt vs. Hoffenheim (Sunday, 2.30pm) Relegated SV Darmstadt 98 aim to scupper Hoffenheim's European bid when they host Pellegrino Matarazzo's men in gameweek 33's action in the Bundesliga on Sunday. 12 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lazio vs. Empoli (Sunday, 11.30am) Still in contention for an unlikely place in next season's Champions League, Lazio seek maximum points when they host relegation-threatened Empoli on Sunday.