Wales vs Ukraine. FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Play-off Finals.
5:00pm, Sunday 5th June 2022.
Wales against Ukraine, the winner will be on the plane to Qatar come November. A match that will be filled with emotion no more so than for the Ukraine players that have witnessed some horrendous scenes with the conflict between Russia. Wales haven’t featured in a World Cup finals since 1958 after the infamous Pele knocked them out with Brazil at the quarter finals stage. As for Ukraine their only appearance was in 2006 where similar to their opponents fell to defeat at the quarter finals stage but to Italy.
Rob Paige’s side sunk Austria to make it this far, while their visitors got the better of Scotland which has led the pair to today’s play off final which will be a highly contested and intense game.
Team News
KICK OFF
3′ – Zinchenko thought he had caught Wales team napping after taking a free kick too quickly for the referees liking which found the bottom corner, the free kick will need to be retaken.
4′ – Malinovski retook the freekick which he fires straight into the arms of Hennessey.
12′ – Yaremchuk has an effort from a tight angle which Hennessey manages to get down to in time to deny the striker.
20′ – The game settles down as Wales look to dictate the game and play it at their own tempo.
24′ – Ramsey flashes a ball across the box which both Moore and James were just a yard away from either reaching the dangerous cross.
28′ – Tsygankov runs through on goal but his on his weaker right foot which results in him curling his effort wide of the post, however the flag later went up for offside.
30′ – Zinchenko has an effort from the edge of the box but is comfortably saved by Hennessey.
31′ – Hennessey has to intervein once again to rush out and meet the ball before the onrushing Tsygankov could stab home, Wales coming under some pressure now.
32′ – Yellow card shown to Mykolenko after stopping James from sprinting around him to reach a through ball.
34′ GOAL for Wales
GARETH BALE
34′ – Wales take the lead curtesy of a Gareth Bale freekick which took a slight deflection of Yarmalenko taking the ball it into the back of the Ukrainian net sending the Welsh fans into delirium.
40′ – Yarmalenko seemed to have been brought down by Allen in the penalty area but after a VAR check it was deemed not a clear and obvious error to overturn the on field decision.
45+2 – The halftime whistle blows in what has been a fairly even contest but it was Bale’s deflected freekick which is the difference maker at the break, Ukraine are by no means out of this and there’ll be all to plat for in the second half.
HT- Wales 1-0 Ukraine
45′ – And Wales kick off the second half as they look to secure their World Cup place
48′ – A lovely passage of play for Wales which ended with Moore cutting the ball back to Ramsey who should have really done better as he skewed his effort wide of the post. A positive start for Wales none the less.
51′ – Wales boss, Rob Page receives a yellow card after being unhappy with the referees decision to not award his side a freekick in which the the ref deemed Page’s outburst worthy of a caution.
55′ – BIG CHANCE for Ukraine, a ball across the box reaches Tsygankov who’s close range effort is saved by the legs of Hennessey, the ball falls to Yaremchuk who could only put the ball wide.
59′ – A superb last ditch tackle by Davies prevents Yarmalenko from baring down on goal.
65′ – The pattern of the second half is apparent that Ukraine are going to dominate the ball but Wales have looked dangerous on the counter attack, still plenty of football to be played.
69′ – A double change for Ukraine; off comes Malinovskyi for Shaparenko and off comes Stepanenko for Sydorchuk.
71′ – Change for Wales sees Dan James come off for Brennan Johnson.
75′ – Shaparenko has a long range effort which blazes over the bar.
75′ – POST, Johnson strikes the post as he’s found at the back post by Bale’s cross but can only hit the near post.
76′ – CHANCE for Bale as he’s found in acres of space on the edge of the six yard area, he looks to place it into the left corner but Bushchan gets down well. After the two chances it should be 2-0 to Wales.
77′ – Another double substitution for Ukraine; Yaremchuk makes way for Dovbyk and Tsygankov comes off for Mudryk.
77′ – A heroic block by Davies once again as he prevents Yarmalenko from drawing level for his side.
82′ – A change for Wales as Gareth Bale, the potential match winner makes way for Harry Wilson.
WHAT A SAVE!
84′ – Hennessey makes an unbelievable save from a header by Dovbyk at point blank range as he pushes the ball out of danger, a match winning save on its own.
90′ – There will be five minutes of added time here as Ukraine throw everything at the closing stages.
92′ – Yarmolenko from the edge of the box shifts the ball onto his right foot but it just flies over Hennessey’s goal
93′ – Change for Wales off comes Williams and on comes Norrington-Davies.
95′ – Yellow card for Mudryk as he takes out Ampadu with a late lunge.
FT Wales 1-0 Ukraine
Wales will be heading to the 2022 Qatar World Cup
After 64 years Wales will be on the plane to the World Cup this November, after putting in a heroic display against a valiant Ukraine side. They’ll enter Group B which consists of; England, USA and Iran. As for Ukraine they can leave today with their heads held high after giving it everything they had but it just so happened that wasn’t enough.
