Ukraine vs Niger: Stepanenko brings win

22-05-14 23:13:34

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On 22 May, the Ukraine national team played a friendly game. In Kyiv, Mykhailo Fomenko’s charges faced Niger.

Ukraine vs Niger - 2:1

Goals: 1:0 Ordets (20), 1:1 Umar (56), 2:1 Stepanenko (80)

Ukraine: Pyatov, Fedetskiy, Kucher (c), Ordets, Seilin, Stepanenko, Garmash (Devic, 46; Bezus, 87), Edmar (Makarenko, 73), Yarmolenko, Konoplyanka (Bolbat, 62), Antonov (Zozulya, 46)

Niger: Daouda (c), Chicote, Lansina, Madise (Zachary, 88), Umar (Mutare, 62), Boureima, Mohamed, Dela Saku, Cisse, Jakub (Abdulnasser, 74), Kuruma

Shakhtar’s defender Oleksandr Kucher was captaining the Ukraine national team. Our team’s goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov was stationed in goal, and another Pitman was employed in the centre – Taras Stepanenko.

Despite a friendly status of the game, the game proved to be quite intense. In the first half alone, there were a lot of challenges and individual battles. It was coming more from the visitors to prove themselves against the Ukrainians.

Fomenko’s team opened the scoring on 20 minutes. The Pitmen’s graduate Ivan Ordets, who’s now on loan at Illichivets, played his debut game in the national team. And his joining the set-piece proved to be productive! Ivan headed the ball in to make it 1-0.

Before and after the break, Ukraine dominated thanks to total ball possession. Niger had to defend for large spells of time. Their attacking moves were not frequent but on 56 minutes the visitors earned a free-kick on the right flank. Umaru scored from close range following a cross to the far post.

In the remaining time Ukraine continued closing down the opposition defence. However, Niger also could have gone in front: on 78 minutes, Pyatov saved a low shot towards the corner. But it was the hosts who scored: Bolbat delivered a cross for Stepanenko to head the ball in!

FC Shakhtar
Press Office