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:
Half-time: Scotland 0-1 Ukraine
45 mins: The break comes at Hampden Park. Craig Gordon made two spectacular saves to deny Ukraine early on but a fantastic move between Malinovskyi and Yarmolenko has put the visitors in front after 45 minutes.
Scotland have work to do now. Can they get back into the match in the second half?
Scotland 0-1 Ukraine
42 mins: Malinovskyi collects the ball in the middle of the pitch and drives up the field. He cuts further inside and draws in four defenders. Tsygankov is wide open on the left wing but Malinovskyi decides to go it alone and hooks a left-footed effort wide of the far post.
Scotland 0-1 Ukraine
39 mins: Andy Robertson tries to drive Scotland forward but the skipper is eventually crowded out with very few options ahead of him to pick out.
Lyndon Dykes presses to the edge of the box but Ukraine work the ball easily away.
Scotland 0-1 Ukraine
36 mins: That was a glorious goal from Ukraine and deserved on the balance of things. They’ve probably had the better chances. Steve Clarke’s men have to respond now. They’ve got time but they need more discipline off the ball to hold their shape.
GOAL! Scotland 0-1 Ukraine (Yarmolenko, 33’)⚽️
33 mins: Ukraine lead! What a run this is from Andriy Yarmolenko. Scotland’s defensive line push up the pitch but Grant Hanley is slightly behind the rest of them. Ruslan Malinovskyi drops deep into his own half and spots Yarmolenko starting his run. He floats the ball over the top and shocks the Scottish back three.
Yarmolenko brings the ball under control with a great first touch as Craig Gordon comes flying off his line. Yarmolenko flicks it over the keeper and the shot dips under the crossbar finishing in the back of the net!
Scotland 0-0 Ukraine
27 mins: Nearly. Zinchenko tries to flick the ball into the Scotland box but McTominay heads it out to Dykes who brings it under control, spins away from a tackle and drives up the pitch. He sends the ball to Adams who brings it inside and attempts to pick out Robertson’s counter-attacking run but underhits his pass and gives the ball back to the visitors.
Scotland 0-0 Ukraine
24 mins: Robertson flicks another cross into the box looking for Che Adams. He squeezes in front of Vitaliy Mykolenko and goes down under the slightest contact looking for a penalty that doesn’t come. The Ukrainian left-back doesn’t look too impressed with that display of acting.
Chance! Now it’s Scotland’s time to put the pressure on. Robertson feeds the ball to Adams who lays it off to McGregor. He dances down the left side of the box and pulls it back to John McGinn who smokes his first time effort over the crossbar!
Scotland 0-0 Ukraine
21 mins: Close! Ukraine are outclassing Scotland now. Yarmolenko tricks his way to the right edge of the box before cutting inside and flicking the ball back to Karavaev. Karavaev laces the ball into the middle of the box where Yarmechuk meets it and fires his effort wide of goal.
Scotland 0-0 Ukraine
18 mins: Incredible from Gordon! Ukraine sweep into the box from the left and square the ball to Roma Yaremchuk. He brings it under control and looks to shoot but a back-tracking Callum McGregor arrives to prod the ball away. Unfortunately for him he passes the ball to Andriy Yarmolenko who spins towards goal and hits one at Craig Gordon. Gordon stops it with his outstretched right hand, then leaps onto the ball to smother it before it rolls over the line. Brilliant goalkeeping.
Scotland 0-0 Ukraine
15 mins: Callum McGregor wins an aerial ball as it drops into midfield and feeds it up to Che Adams on the inside right channel.
He takes a touch to shift the ball onto his left foot before curling an attempted pass into the box for Lyndon Dykes. It’s almost impossible to pull off having to split both centre-backs at the exact time Dykes makes his run and Ukraine manage to deal with it easily enough.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments