Slovakia 1-2 Ukraine: Roman Yaremchuk’s dream goal secures valuable comeback victory at the 2024 European Championship

Ukraine made a thrilling second-half comeback to beat Slovakia in Düsseldorf and keep their Euro 2024 campaign alive when Roman Yaremchuk came off the bench to score a wonderful last-minute winning goal.

But Ukraine showed signs of life before half-time when Oleksandr Tymchyk hit the post and Mykola Shaparenko equalised early in the second half as the momentum shifted.

The decisive moment came ten minutes before the end, when Yaremchuk perfected the comeback with a wonderful touch and finish, sending the yellow-clad fans into ecstasy.

This leaves Group E completely open and balanced: Ukraine, Slovakia and Romania all have three points, while Belgium has zero points ahead of the meeting between Belgium and Romania on Saturday.

Romania’s 3-0 defeat to Ukraine was the second biggest surprise in the first round of group matches after Slovakia’s victory over Belgium.

Serhiy Rebrov’s team were considered by many to be the surprise candidates of the tournament due to their talent-packed squad, but in the opening game and the first half against Slovakia they seemed far from expectations.

That changed in the second half in Düsseldorf, where there was a deserved, thrilling comeback as Ukraine took control of the game and increased the pressure on a Slovakian side that had looked so smooth in the opening minutes.

The result also puts Group E in an exciting position. If Belgium beats Romania on Saturday, all four teams will have three points. If that happens, get the popcorn out for the finals.

With a 0-1 deficit and facing elimination from the tournament, Ukraine needed a hero.

They probably weren’t counting on Dynamo Kyiv midfielder Shaparenko, but it was the 25-year-old who took control of the game in the second half, equalising and then providing the assist for Yaremchuk’s winning goal.

Slovakia: Dubravka 6, Pekarik 6, Vavro 6, Skriniar 6, Hancko 6, Kucka 6, Lobotka 7, Duda 6, Schranz 7, Bozenik 6, Haraslin 8

Substitutes: Benes 6, Strelec 6, Obert 6, Suslov 6, Sauer nz

Ukraine: Trubin 7, Tymchyk 6, Zabaryni 6, Matviienko 6, Zinchenko 8, Brazhko 7, Shaparenko 8, Yarmolenko 6, Sudakov 7, Mudryk 7, Dovbyk 6

Substitutes: Zubkov 6, Yaremchuk 8, Malinovskyi nz, Sydorchuk nz, Talovierov nz

18′ GOAL! SLOVAKIA – UKRAINE 1:0 (Schranz)

It was predictable! Schranz, the match winner against Belgium, is again the man on the scoresheet as a cross is directed to the far post, from where he rises and heads home from close range. Slovakia continue to impress!

34′ UKRAINE HITS THE POST!

So close to equalising! It’s a great move from the Ukrainians, starting with a cross pass to Yarmolenko, who tries a one-two with Dovbyk to get into the box, but the ball is intercepted. The ball comes back to Tymchyk, but his sharp shot from a tight angle is diverted by Dubravka’s fingertips onto the post and after a bit of pinballing Slovakia are able to clear.

54′ GOAL! SLOVAKIA 1-1 UKRAINE (Shaparenko)

Mudryk starts another Ukrainian counterattack, but his pass ends up behind Dovbyk, slowing things down. But that’s not important – the striker holds the ball up and when Zinchenko plays it back into the box from the left, Shaparenko is there to cushion the shot into the bottom corner. The game can begin!

75′ MUDRYK HITS THE POST!

Slovakia go on the offensive but Pekarik’s shot from the edge of the box is blocked and Ukraine suddenly have a two-on-one counterattack! Dovbyk’s pass to Mudryk is hard though and he misses, but the Chelsea winger’s shot ricochets off Dubravka’s knee and hits the post before going out again!

80′ GOAL! SLOVAKIA 1-2 UKRAINE (Yaremchuk)

They did it! Shaparenko fires the ball over the bar for Yaremchuk to chase. The big striker takes it beautifully with his first touch and then shoots past Dubravka into the goal. There is chaos on the touchline as the Ukrainian players pour onto the pitch in celebration!

• At 30 years and 282 days, Ivan Schranz is the oldest player to score in his first two EURO appearances, overtaking Bulgaria’s Hristo Stoichkov, who achieved the feat in 1996 when he was 156 days younger.