Scotland vs Ukraine LIVE: World Cup play-off result, final score and reaction as Ukraine triumph
Follow all the updates from Hampden Park as both nations look to move one step away from the finals in Qatar at the end of the year
Ukraine kept alive their dream of reaching the World Cup finals, beating Scotland 3-1 in their play-off at Hampden Park in their first game since the Russian invasion of their country.
Ukraine will now face Wales on Sunday in Cardiff with the winner taking a place in November’s finals in Qatar. The loss means Scotland remain without an appearance at a World Cup since 1998.
Goals from Andriy Yarmolenko and Roman Yaremchuk had put a confident and dominant Ukraine 2-0 up before Callum McGregor pulled a goal back for the Scots in the 79th minute.
The goal injected some belief into Scotland who applied some late pressure but deep into stoppage time substitute Artem Dovbyk finished off a counter-attack to secure the victory.
Follow all the reaction below as Ukraine beat Scotland in the World Cup play-off semi-final:
Scotland 1-2 Ukraine
90 mins: Four minutes of added time to play. Scotland win a corner that John McGinn loops high into the box. Grant Hanley shuffles back but meets it with a header that he directs wide of the post!
Scotland 1-2 Ukraine
88 mins: Substitute Mykola Shaparenko goes into the referee’s book. Time is running out for Scotland. Can they get another one?
Scotland 1-2 Ukraine
85 mins: Ukraine have all but one of their players behind the ball as Scotland push for an equaliser that would take the match to extra time. John McGinn tries to slide Aaron Hickey into the box but over does the pass and sends it out for a goal kick.
Scotland 1-2 Ukraine
82 mins: Brilliant work from McGregor to sprint back and cut short a Ukrainian counter-attack! There’s no time for Scotland to concede again and that is a vital challenge from the midfielder.
Ukraine will be doing everything they can to take time out of the game now.
GOAL! Scotland 1-2 Ukraine (McGregor, 79’)⚽️
79 mins: They’ve got one back! It’s a scrappy, scrappy goal but none of the Scottish players care. Bushchan is charged down by Scott McTominay and he flaps the ball away. John McGinn tries to control it but tips it to the edge of the box where Callum McGregor smokes a shot at goal. Bushchan spills the ball once again and it bursts through his hands before bouncing into the net. Stepanenko throws himself at the ball and boots it clear but the referee gets word that the ball crossed the line and Scotland are back in the game!
Scotland 0-2 Ukraine
76 mins: Chances! A counter-attacking from Scotland sees them boot the ball up to Che Adams who takes on the defenders and shimmies into the box. He shoots and forces Bushchan into a sharp save but the ball bounces out to McGinn. He runs onto a first time strike but Matviyenko gets in the way and deflects it over the crossbar!
Scotland 0-2 Ukraine
73 mins: Chance! Scotland work the ball around the Ukrainian defence quite well as McTominay links up with Christie who feeds it up to Armstrong. He shifts the ball from his right to his left foot then whacks a soft low effort at Bushchan who keeps it out.
Scotland 0-2 Ukraine
70 mins: It’s a double change from Steve Clarke. Stuart Armstrong and Jack Hendry are brought on to replace Liam Cooper and Billy Gilmour.
The momentum is with Scotland. Can they score and set up a tense last 20 minutes?
Scotland 0-2 Ukraine
67 mins: How has he missed?! Ryan Christie brings the ball down the right side and shifts it to the corner of the box before feeding in Scott McTominay. He shoots from narrow angle and forces Bushchan to flap the ball away. It comes to John McGinn who has time to pick out his spot but knocks his header wide of the right-hand post! That was the chance for Scotland to get back in the game.
Scotland 0-2 Ukraine
64 mins: There are a lot of worried faces on the Scottish fans around Hampden Park but Scotland are finding more space in Ukraine’s final third. Christie swings a cross to the back post where Robertson arrives. He can’t pick out a teammate with the cutback and the visitors clear their lines.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments