Ukraine 1-0 Spain
There are few times in modern football when I am surprised by an outcome, yet this UEFA Nations League Group A4 match had one of them.
It was a surprise victory, especially given the odds were so stacked against the Covid-19 hit hosts Ukraine, who lost three of their goalkeepers.
The contest in Kiev featured plenty of UEFA Nations League 2020 highlights, mainly in one direction, and even ended with Spanish captain Sergio Ramos as an auxiliary centre-forward.
However, the one statistic that mattered was the final score as a combination of Viktor Tsygankov and Georgi Bushchan earned Ukraine and their most famous son, Andriy Shevchenko: a famous triumph.
Highlights of the game
After their Nations League success over Switzerland on Saturday evening, coupled with Ukraine’s defeat at home to Germany – just a few days after they were trounced 7-1 in a friendly by France – the SBOTOP UEFA Nations League 20202 betting odds were all on Spain.
So was the contest as Spain had 21 shots in total and Ukraine only two. As it turned out, the hosts needed just one.
About 15,000 fans were allowed in to watch the game and they witnessed Bushchan made save after save.
The Dynamo Kiev man was in unbeatable form.
First, he kept out Rodrigo’s header, then an Ansu Fati shot and then a Ramos header – all this inside the opening half-hour.
Rodrigo and Sergio Canales had opportunities before Bushchan saved from Mikel Merino as his opposite number, David De Gea, was a long-standing spectator.
Into the second half and the pattern continued.
Rodrigo headed wide, Ferran Torres shot waywardly off target, and the Leeds United man then struck the post.
It seemed only a matter of time before Spain, in the stadium where they were crowned the 2012 European champions, would score but it was actually the closest they came to a goal.
Still, the pressure continued and again it was led by Spanish players plying their trade in the Premier League.
Sergio Reguilón (Spurs) saw a shot blocked, Adama Traoré (Wolves) called the home shot-stopper into action again following good work by Rodrigo.
Then it was the turn of Torres (Man City) to play in Mikel Oyarzabal, again denied by Bushchan before Reguilon turned provider for Torres – the outcome was the same.
Bushchan’s heroics proved even more crucial moments later as substitute Tsygankov ran onto West Ham forward Andriy Yarmolenko’s pass to beat de Gea.
Into the closing stages and Bushchan continually frustrated Spain as the visitors, who left Sergio Busquets (who revealed pre-match that he is determined to remain a part of the Spain squad) on the bench, were beaten.
The final whistle signified wild celebrations for the home side as they beat Spain for the first time in their history. They had not even scored against their opponents for 17 years before tonight. The marksmen on that occasion was Shevchenko.
If you are Ukrainian, dreams are made of nights like this.
Key statistics
Spain have failed to score in two of their last three games after scoring in each of their previous 42 matches (121 goals, 2.9 goals per game).
This was only Ukraine’s second clean sheet in eight matches and the first time Spain have failed to score in a Nations League tie.
It was also the first defeat for Spain in 16 matches (won 11, drawn four).
Ukraine had not scored against Spain since Shevchenko, now their coach, in September 2003.
This was the first time Luis Enrique’s Spain side had lost since Croatia beat them 3-2 in November 2018.
What’s next?
With Switzerland holding Germany in the RheinEnergieStadion, Group A4 remains wide open.
Both nations have two matches remaining in the group stages of this tournament.
Ukraine travel to Poland for a friendly on November 11 before visiting Germany three days later and then Switzerland another three days later.
Spain have also a friendly scheduled on November 11, against Holland, before the final two group matches versus the Swiss and at home to Germany – a potentially table-topping clash.
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