Ukraine kept alive their hopes of qualifying for Euro 2016 with a 2-0 victory in Macedonia on Friday that moved them level on points with second-placed Slovakia in Group C.
Yevhen Seleznyov broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in the second half and substitute Artem Kravets secured a crucial victory when he doubled the lead in the 87th minute to move Ukraine up to 19 points from nine games.
However, the odds on them finishing above Slovakia and claiming one of the two automatic qualification spots are likely to be stacked against them.
Ukraine host group winners and European champions Spain in their final encounter tomorrow, needing to better Slovakia’s result away in Luxembourg to finish in the top two.
Ukraine dominated possession, but created little going forward before Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan awarded the visitors a penalty for a handball when Macedonia defender Leonard Zhuta tried to block Andriy Yarmolenko’s header at the far post.
Seleznyov fired home from the spot to open the scoring, before Sevilla winger Yevhen Konoplyanka failed to beat the goalkeeper with a clear-cut chance in the 80th minute.
Kravets came off the bench in the second half to wrap up victory, bursting into the penalty area from the left and slotting the ball into the net between the goalkeeper’s legs.
“I am sure we would have broken the deadlock later in the second half even if I had missed the penalty,” Seleznyov told broadcasters. “I hope we can achieve a praiseworthy result with Spain.”
Ukraine are to be without centre back Yevhen Khacheridi and defensive midfielder Serhiy Sydorchuk for the game against Spain, as both players were booked in the first half and must now serve a one-game suspension.
“”hese are very serious and unwanted losses,” Ukraine coach Mykhaylo Fomenko told a news conference. “We tried to explain that emotions should help, not destroy, but failed to put this idea into their mind.”
“Both of them knew about a possible suspension before the match, so now the players who step in against Spain have an opportunity to prove their worthiness.”
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