Published 16 October 2023 4 min read
Men's U21
Report: Ukraine 3-2 England MU21s
Lee Carsley's Young Lions suffer stoppage-time heartbreak following rousing comeback in Kosice
ENGLAND MU21s: FIND OUT MORE
England suffered a last-minute 3-2 defeat to Ukraine in the UEFA U21 EURO qualifiers, after a devastating last-gasp winner at the Košická Futbalová Arena.
First-half goals from Nazar Voloshyn and Oleh Ocheretko had put England at a disadvantage, as attacking efforts from did not produce any reward.
But a rousing second-half inspired a comeback through Noni Madueke and Charlie Cresswell’s 88th-minute header only for Illya Kvasnytsya to snatch a stoppage-time winner with just seconds to go in the group stage game.
Young Lions 'keeper James Trafford was called upon to manage a couple of early corners but the Burnley man kept his cool against Ukraine who fashioned a menacing press.
Voloshyn looked through on goal after a ball over the top but Tino Livramento was there to clean up for England at the back as England started to show their attacking intent in the press when Rico Lewis cut out a weak pass in the eighth minute and played Madueke through, but the forward was closed off in the box by Ruslan Neshcheret.
First-half goals from Nazar Voloshyn and Oleh Ocheretko had put England at a disadvantage, as attacking efforts from did not produce any reward.
But a rousing second-half inspired a comeback through Noni Madueke and Charlie Cresswell’s 88th-minute header only for Illya Kvasnytsya to snatch a stoppage-time winner with just seconds to go in the group stage game.
Young Lions 'keeper James Trafford was called upon to manage a couple of early corners but the Burnley man kept his cool against Ukraine who fashioned a menacing press.
Voloshyn looked through on goal after a ball over the top but Tino Livramento was there to clean up for England at the back as England started to show their attacking intent in the press when Rico Lewis cut out a weak pass in the eighth minute and played Madueke through, but the forward was closed off in the box by Ruslan Neshcheret.
Lee Carsley’s side started to commit numbers forward and Lewis cut out another pass which made its way to Madueke on the edge of the box who struck just wide.
In the 25th minute, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens came in from the left, playing a quick one-two with captain Harvey Elliot before finding James McAtee in the box who poked wide of the right post.
For all England’s quick feet, attractive pressing and possession, they struggled to register shots on target.
And Ukraine dealt the first blow through Voloshyn who slotted home from a Maksym Braharu cross after Bogdan Viunnyk attempted and missed the ball for an overhead spectacular.
Madueke continued with glossy play to dance around Ukraine defenders in the box but the shot was tame and wide with options to his left and right.
In the 25th minute, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens came in from the left, playing a quick one-two with captain Harvey Elliot before finding James McAtee in the box who poked wide of the right post.
For all England’s quick feet, attractive pressing and possession, they struggled to register shots on target.
And Ukraine dealt the first blow through Voloshyn who slotted home from a Maksym Braharu cross after Bogdan Viunnyk attempted and missed the ball for an overhead spectacular.
Madueke continued with glossy play to dance around Ukraine defenders in the box but the shot was tame and wide with options to his left and right.
16 Oct 2023
4:39
Ukraine 3-2 England MU21s
See the best of the action from the game in Kosice, Slovakia
Ukraine doubled the lead with a precise Ocheretko free kick before half time after Jarrad Branthwaite gave away the foul just outside the box.
But England entered the second half with only eyes for goal and sustained their attacking mindset after the break.
In the 61st minute, McAtee found the head of Livramento with a free kick but the opportunity went begging with the ball headed high and wide.
Ukraine looked threatening again mid-way through the second half as Braharu’s ball flashed across the face of goal, was connected with by Ocheretko and headed away by Livramneto at the other end of the pitch.
After some sustained pressure, Madueke pulled one back with a sublime pin-point strike after substitute Liam Delap cleverly flicked on the ball to the free man in the box.
But England entered the second half with only eyes for goal and sustained their attacking mindset after the break.
In the 61st minute, McAtee found the head of Livramento with a free kick but the opportunity went begging with the ball headed high and wide.
Ukraine looked threatening again mid-way through the second half as Braharu’s ball flashed across the face of goal, was connected with by Ocheretko and headed away by Livramneto at the other end of the pitch.
After some sustained pressure, Madueke pulled one back with a sublime pin-point strike after substitute Liam Delap cleverly flicked on the ball to the free man in the box.
England continued to hammer the door of Ukraine’s defence and were frustrated to have a penalty shout waved away after McAtee went down in the box.
Braharu troubled England’s defence again with five minutes to go but failed to shoot on target with space at his feet.
In the 89th minute, Cresswell was at the back post to head a Harvey Elliot ball home for a superb equaliser, but it was heartbreak in Slovakia as Kvasnytsya struck in the 94th minute to hand England their first defeat of the group stage.
Carsley’s side are back in UEFA EURO U-21 qualifying action next month against Serbia, whom they beat 9-1 at City Ground in Nottingham and Northern Ireland at Goodison Park.
England: 1. James Trafford (Burnley), 2. Rico Lewis (Manchester City), 3. Bashir Humphreys (Swansea City on loan from Chelsea), 4. Charlie Cresswell (Leeds United), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), 6. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough), 7. James McAtee (Sheffield United on loan from Manchester City), 11. Noni Madueke (Chelsea), 19. Harvey Elliott (Liverpool), 20. Tino Livramento (Newcastle United) 21. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (Borussia Dortmund)
Substitutes: 9. Liam Delap (Hull City on loan from Manchester City) for Hackney 57’, 23. Jaden Philogene (Hull City) for Bynoe-Gittens 58’, 17. Samuel Iling-Junior (Juventus) for Humphreys 58’, 18. Jonathan Rowe (Norwich City) for McAtee 74’, 12. Brooke Norton-Cuffy for Livramento 74’
Substitutes not used: 8. Charlie Patino (Swansea City on loan from Arsenal), (Millwall on loan from Arsenal), 14. Aaron Ramsey (Burnley), 16. Jarell Quansah (Liverpool),), 18. Jonathan Rowe (Norwich City), 22. Matthew Cox (Bristol Rovers)
Goals: Madeuke 67’, Cresswell 89’
Cautions: Lewis 66’, Cresswell 96’
Ukraine: 1. Ruslan Neshcheret, 2. Kostyantyn Vivcharenko, 5. Vitaliy Roman, 7. Bogdan Viunnyk, 8. Oleh Ocheretko, 10. Yegor Yarmoliuk, 11. Nazar Voloshyn, 13. Volodymyr Saliuk, 16. Arseniy Batahov, 17. Volodymyr Brazhko, 21. Maksym Braharu
Substitutes: 20. Ihor Krasnopir for Viunnyk 59’, 22. Valentin Rubchynskyi for Ocheretko 74’, 14. Illya Kvasnytsya for Voloshyn 74’, 18. Oleksandr Yatsyk for Yarmoliuk 82’
Substitutes not used: 23. Kiril Fesiun, 4. Roman Didyk, 6. Maksym Kucheryavyi, 15. Artem Smolyakov, 18. Oleksandr Yatsyk, 19. Yehor Hunichev, 20. Ihor Krasnopir
Goals: Voloshyn 31’, Ocheretko 43’, Illya Kvasnytsya 94’
Cautions: Rubchynskyi 92’, Roman 96’
Braharu troubled England’s defence again with five minutes to go but failed to shoot on target with space at his feet.
In the 89th minute, Cresswell was at the back post to head a Harvey Elliot ball home for a superb equaliser, but it was heartbreak in Slovakia as Kvasnytsya struck in the 94th minute to hand England their first defeat of the group stage.
Carsley’s side are back in UEFA EURO U-21 qualifying action next month against Serbia, whom they beat 9-1 at City Ground in Nottingham and Northern Ireland at Goodison Park.
England: 1. James Trafford (Burnley), 2. Rico Lewis (Manchester City), 3. Bashir Humphreys (Swansea City on loan from Chelsea), 4. Charlie Cresswell (Leeds United), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), 6. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough), 7. James McAtee (Sheffield United on loan from Manchester City), 11. Noni Madueke (Chelsea), 19. Harvey Elliott (Liverpool), 20. Tino Livramento (Newcastle United) 21. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (Borussia Dortmund)
Substitutes: 9. Liam Delap (Hull City on loan from Manchester City) for Hackney 57’, 23. Jaden Philogene (Hull City) for Bynoe-Gittens 58’, 17. Samuel Iling-Junior (Juventus) for Humphreys 58’, 18. Jonathan Rowe (Norwich City) for McAtee 74’, 12. Brooke Norton-Cuffy for Livramento 74’
Substitutes not used: 8. Charlie Patino (Swansea City on loan from Arsenal), (Millwall on loan from Arsenal), 14. Aaron Ramsey (Burnley), 16. Jarell Quansah (Liverpool),), 18. Jonathan Rowe (Norwich City), 22. Matthew Cox (Bristol Rovers)
Goals: Madeuke 67’, Cresswell 89’
Cautions: Lewis 66’, Cresswell 96’
Ukraine: 1. Ruslan Neshcheret, 2. Kostyantyn Vivcharenko, 5. Vitaliy Roman, 7. Bogdan Viunnyk, 8. Oleh Ocheretko, 10. Yegor Yarmoliuk, 11. Nazar Voloshyn, 13. Volodymyr Saliuk, 16. Arseniy Batahov, 17. Volodymyr Brazhko, 21. Maksym Braharu
Substitutes: 20. Ihor Krasnopir for Viunnyk 59’, 22. Valentin Rubchynskyi for Ocheretko 74’, 14. Illya Kvasnytsya for Voloshyn 74’, 18. Oleksandr Yatsyk for Yarmoliuk 82’
Substitutes not used: 23. Kiril Fesiun, 4. Roman Didyk, 6. Maksym Kucheryavyi, 15. Artem Smolyakov, 18. Oleksandr Yatsyk, 19. Yehor Hunichev, 20. Ihor Krasnopir
Goals: Voloshyn 31’, Ocheretko 43’, Illya Kvasnytsya 94’
Cautions: Rubchynskyi 92’, Roman 96’