Ireland lose out to much changed Ukraine side

UEFA Nations League – League B Group 1

Republic of Ireland 0-1 Ukraine

The Republic of Ireland’s dismal Nations League record continued as they were beaten 1-0 by Ukraine at the Aviva Stadium.

It marks two defeats in a matter of days for Stephen Kenny’s side as Viktor Tsigankov’s 48th-minute free-kick proved the difference between the two sides.

A late rally by the Irish led to several chances to restore parity, however, Ukraine held on to secure the three points in this League B encounter.

A first meeting of the two countries at senior international level and it was a joint message of peace and hope throughout the stadium, as a strong show of solidarity was evident in the build-up to the game in light of the horrific situation war-torn Ukraine finds itself in.

A sizeable contingent of flag-waving Ukraine supporters filled the Havelock Square end, while the blue and yellow was equally evident throughout the stadium.

Ireland, looking to bounce back from their shock defeat on Saturday in Armenia, were quickest out of the blocks with Jason Knight showing early, dropping deep from the left side and running with real attacking intent.

Within three minutes the Derby County youngster created Ireland’s first opening, linking well with Enda Stevens before bursting into the box – his shot deflected en route to an easy stop by Andriy Lunin.

Ukraine’s sluggish start was summed up by a sloppy sequence in the fifth minute, allowing Chiedozie Ogbene get on the ball in the box, however, his low ball across the face was worked away.

Ireland were getting plenty of joy maintaining their high press, and then in the 10th minute John Egan strode forward and fed Knight who had time to look up and smash a fine goalbound effort, forcing Lubin to go full stretch to bat the ball away for a corner.

In the 13th minute, Ukraine finally worked the ball forward through the middle allowing Mykhailo Mudryk to race through the middle and let fly from just outside the box – the shot, however, flew high and wide.

An open and entertaining game, as the first 15 minutes flew by, Ukraine now growing in confidence with Mykola Shaparenko and Vitaliy Mykolenko both missing the target with half-chances.

And their best chance came in the 18th minute as Mudryk arrived perfectly onto a pass down the left flank, drifting past Nathan Collins without breaking stride and then looked to do the same with Egan, however, his final effort from close range was tame and it rolled harmlessly wide.

End-to-end, a really open game was in full flow with both sides getting into excellent positions yet equally unable to find that moment of composure to really threaten to open the scoring.

In the 33rd minute, Egan’s crunching challenge on the ever-impressive Mudryk led to an interesting counterattack as Hendrick rolled it right into the path of Robinson who went down in the box appealing for a penalty.

Waved away without hesitation by the Slovakian official, Filip Glova, who had been happy to let challenges go throughout. Valeriy Bondar did appear to get the slightest touch ahead of Robinson with the contact coming just after.

Then in the 37th minute, Taras Kacharaba eased Knight out of the way as the ball came across from the left before smashing a perfect strike with the outside of his right foot into the far top corner, cushioned by the crossbar as the ball rolled around the inside of the net, Kelleher stretching but never reaching.

It would be checked, however, and all looked fine as Knight appeared to check his run too soon waiting for the ball to reach him, however, an earlier offside – marginal as it was – would chalk the goal off following a VAR review.

But Ukraine remained in the ascendancy for the remainder of the 45, passing the ball with ease, remaining on the front foot as Mykola Shaparenko shot, which was easily saved, called a halt to the first half.

Ireland started the second half as they opened the first, with a break into the box and a shot from Knight that did not threaten.

But then, moments later, Ukraine would have the ball in the back of the net once more, and this time there was no VAR to save Ireland.

Only on the pitch two minutes, having come on at half-time, Viktor Tsygankov’s set-piece delivery from way out on the right flank missed everyone and then hopped past the flailing Kelleher into the roof of the net.

A fine delivery right across the corridor of uncertainty, yet the goalkeeper will surely be disappointed that he was not alert enough to get across to stop it bouncing into the net from such a way out.

Ireland tried to respond but Shane Duffy’s 52nd-minute header was easily saved, and Ukraine appeared buoyed by the lead, maintaining their attacking presence, testing Kelleher twice inside the next ten minutes.

Kenny made his first change out of necessity rather than looking for a new approach, as Egan went off injured, replaced by Dara O’Shea.

Three more changes would follow in the 69th minute as Michael Obafemi, James McClean and Alan Browne were sent on, the manager, no doubt, looking for more of an impact from his substitutes than he got in Yerevan on Saturday.

Duffy squandered a golden opportunity in the 74th minute as the ball was helped back to him by Ogbene in the box, however, his wild swipe led to poor contact and Ukraine cleared the danger.

In the 78th minute, Ireland came close to equalising as Duffy’s bullet header crashed off the cross bar with CJ Hamilton, only on the pitch a matter of seconds, unable to turn the rebound back on target.

A minute later, a set-piece on the right led to another chance as Obafemi got on the end of a glancing header at the back post but could not direct it goalwards.

The subs, to their credit, were making the difference as Hamilton then did well on the right to work the ball across the face, which led to Cullen following up with a rasping effort that flew wide.

Obafemi’s natural centre-forward work was also causing problems, stretching the defence, while McClean’s whipped free in the 88th minute perhaps should have been turned home by Duffy who could not make clean contact from close range.

An acrobatic Duffy effort struck a Ukraine defender, preventing it from flying into the back of the net, while Knight snatched at the loose ball, smashing it over the bar, the game now deep into injury time.

Time for one more chance, however, it would arrive at the far end of the pitch as Collins made a vital block on goalscorer Tsygankov’s shot to help it onto the bar and over.

Twelve games now for Ireland without a win in the competition as Kenny’s side lost their second consecutive match in this edition of the Nations League, sending them into Saturday’s clash with Scotland worrying more about relegation rather than earlier ambitions of topping the group.

Republic of Ireland: Caoimhin Kelleher; Shane Duffy, Nathan Collins, John Egan (Dara O’Shea 62); Cyrus Christie (Alan Browne 69), Enda Stevens (James McClean 69), Josh Cullen, Jeff Hendrick; Chiedozie Ogbene (CJ Hamilton 78), Jason Knight, Callum Robinson (Michael Obafemi 69)

Ukraine: Andriy Lunin; Denys Popov, Valeriy Bondar, Oleksandr Syrota; Serhiy Sydorchuk (capt) (Danylo Ignatenko 87), Mykola Shaparenko, Vitaliy Mykolenko, Taras Kacharaba (Oleksandr Karavaev 72); Oleksandr Zubkov (Viktor Tsygankov HT), Mykhailo Mudryk (Oleksandr Pikhalyonok 72), Artem Dovbyk (Danylo Sikan 80)

Referee: Filip Glova (SVK)