Roman Yaremchuk scored a late winner as Ukraine kept their Euro 2024 dream alive by fighting back to beat Slovakia 2-1 in Group E.
A defeat in Dusseldorf would not have eliminated Serhiy Rebrov’s side, but Ukraine knew they realistically needed at least one point to have a chance of reaching the knockout stage.
Slovakia, who stunned Belgium in their opening match, looked on course to qualify for the last 16 with another victory when Ivan Schranz’s header, his second goal of the tournament, put them ahead in the 17th minute.
Despite Oleksandr Tymchyk striking a post as Ukraine searched for an equalizer, Slovakia dominated most of the first half, but found Ukraine goalkeeper Anatolii Trubin in excellent form.
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The second half belonged to Ukraine. Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk showed bright moments throughout, and it was his driving run that led to Mykola Shaparenko sweeping home Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko’s cross from the left for the equalizer in the 54th minute.
From that moment, Ukraine was in the ascendancy. Mudryk struck a post from a tight angle before substitute Yaremchuk grabbed the headlines, showing brilliant technique to control a long ball out of the sky and poke it past Slovakia goalkeeper Martin Dubravka in the 80th minute.
The result throws Group E wide open ahead of Belgium’s match with Romania tomorrow evening. Romania, Ukraine, and Slovakia are all on three points, with Belgium yet to get off the mark.
