Shakhtar in national team: Ukraine lose to Spain

28-03-15 00:31:36

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On 27 March, the Ukraine national team played on Matchday 5 of the Euro 2016 qualification.

Spain 1-0 (1-0) Ukraine

Goal: Morata (28)

Ukraine: Pyatov, Fedetskiy, Kucher, Khacheridi, Shevchuk, Rotan, Tymoshchuk, Stepanenko (Garmash, 76), Yarmolenko, Zozulya (Kravets, 32; Budkovskyi, 90+1), Konoplyanka

The Ukraine national team head coach Mykhailo Fomenko deployed four representatives of Shakhtar. Andriy Pyatov was fielded in goal, Oleksandr Kucher was stationed in the centre of defence, Vyacheslav Shevchuk – at left back and Taras Stepanenko performed his traditional duties as a holding midfielder.

Ukraine, as expected, built their game from the back. However, before conceding a goal, Ukraine had two opportunities to open the scoring, but shots from Fedetskiy and Rotan lacked accuracy. Then, Morata took his chance, after receiving a pass from Iniesta and beating Khacheridi in an individual battle.

After the break, Ukraine started playing more energetically; Iker Casillias had to work a lot. Spain’s goalkeeper turned the ball away for a corner twice following shots from Rotan. A little later, Stepanenko took a headed shot but the ball flew over the crossbar.

Unfortunately, 15 minutes from tine, the Pitmen’s midfielder felt pain in his thigh and was unable to continue the game. The hosts also had a chance, but Pyatov saved a shot from Cazorla from close range. Ukraine failed to take points in the game versus the reigning champions of Europe, although Fomenko’s team came close to that.

Photo courtesy of Yevhen Kravs and fifa.com, gettyimages.com

FC Shakhtar