Regulation Filled With Post Shots Galore
In one of the slowest, grind-it-out matches of the round of 16, Ukraine struck first in the 27th minute with a rocket of a shot by Oleksandr Zinchenko. Ukraine switched fields quickly, sending the ball down the right wing for Andriy Yarmolenko who curled the cross deep into the 18-yard box. This allowed Zinchenko to unleash a powerful shot that the Swedish goalkeeper, Robin Olsen, could get a piece of but could not keep out of the net. Yarmolenko nearly added a 2ndUkrainian goal in the 55th minute on a deep shot that had Sweden’s keeper beat, but it clipped the outside of the post for a goal-kick.
Emil Forsberg added his 4th goal of the tournament just before halftime in the 43rd minute. The winger crushed a shot from 25 yards out and the ball deflected off the leg of Ukraine’s Zabarnyi into the back of the net. Forsberg was dominant in the 2nd half as well, but couldn’t give Sweden the lead, as he hit the post both in the 56th and 69th minute. The game remained level by a matter of inches three separate times in the 2nd half.
Danielson Sees Red in Extra-Time, Dovbyk is the Hero
The game was held at a stale-mate with neither team taking charge, until Sweden’s Marcus Danielson was shown a straight red card in the 98th minute for a dangerous challenge on Artem Besedin. Besedin eventually left the field with a significant leg injury and Sweden was forced to play the remainder of extra-time with only 10 men.
Ukraine started sending much more pressure in the 2nd half of extra-time attempting to end the game before penalty kicks and finally capitalized in the 121st minute. 23-year-old Artem Dovbyk becomes the hero as he heads in the cross from Zinchenko right as the clock was striking midnight. Dovbyk’s goal was the 2nd latest goal in EURO Cup history, behind only Semih Şentürk’s goal for Turkey in 2008, which was scored in the 122nd minute and is notably one of the craziest finishes in Euro Cup history. Ukraine is now in the quarterfinals for the first time in their nation’s history.
What’s Next For Ukraine?
Ukraine is set to play England on July 3rd in Rome, Italy.
