Ukraine fought back from a goal down to secure a vital 2-1 victory against Slovakia in their Euro 2024 Group E clash, reigniting their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages. Substitute Roman Yaremchuk emerged as the hero, netting a late winner after Mykola Shaparenko had earlier equalized, cancelling out Ivan Schranz’s opening goal for Slovakia. The match, played on Friday, was a captivating encounter that swung back and forth, ultimately delivering a crucial three points for Ukraine in this fiercely competitive group.
Slovakia, fresh from their stunning victory over Belgium in their opening fixture, started brightly and took the lead, threatening to secure their place in the round of 16 with another win. However, after Schranz’s early goal, they retreated defensively, allowing Ukraine to seize the initiative. The Ukrainian side, spurred on by their passionate supporters, mounted a spirited comeback, demonstrating resilience and determination to overcome their first-half deficit.
The first half saw Slovakia initially dominate, capitalizing on their positive start in Düsseldorf. Their early pressure paid off in the 17th minute when Lukás Haraslín delivered a precise lobbed cross, finding Ivan Schranz at the far post who headed home his second goal of Euro 2024. Prior to the goal, Ukraine goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin had been called into action, making crucial saves to deny both Haraslín and Schranz and keep the score level. Despite going behind, Ukraine gradually grew into the game towards the end of the first half. Mykhailo Mudryk and Oleksandr Tymchyk both came close to equalizing, with Tymchyk striking the post, signaling Ukraine’s growing threat.
The second half witnessed a transformed Ukraine side emerge, playing with increased intensity and purpose. Their pressure finally told in the 54th minute when Mykola Shaparenko expertly finished from close range, leveling the score. The equalizer injected further momentum into Ukraine’s play, and they continued to push forward in search of a winner. Slovakia, in contrast, appeared content to defend and secure a point, a strategy that would ultimately prove costly. Mudryk struck the post again for Ukraine, highlighting their persistent attacking intent.
The decisive moment arrived late in the game when Roman Yaremchuk, introduced as a substitute, displayed excellent control to latch onto a lofted pass from the impressive Shaparenko. Yaremchuk deftly prodded the ball past Slovakian goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka, sending Ukrainian fans into raptures and securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory. This crucial win lifted Ukraine level on points with both Slovakia and Romania in Group E, setting up a tense finale to the group stage. For Slovakia, the defeat served as a harsh lesson about the perils of sitting back after taking the lead, mirroring their Euro 2020 campaign where a strong opening match was not enough to prevent a group stage exit. Ukraine, on the other hand, will take immense confidence and renewed hope into their final Euro 2024 group match after this vital comeback win against Slovakia.
