Belgium's Winless Streak Continues as Ukraine Claim 3-1 Victory
Ukraine staged a stunning comeback to defeat Belgium 3-1 in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League playoff, with Oleksiy Hutsuliak, Vladyslav Vanat, and Ilya Zabarnyi scoring in a thrilling second-half turnaround.
Ukraine pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat Belgium 3-1 in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League League A/B playoff, securing a significant advantage in the relegation battle. The match saw a dramatic turn of events in the second half, as Ukraine scored three goals in just 13 minutes to overturn Belgium's early lead and leave Rudi Garcia's perfect start with the Red Devils in tatters.
Despite being played in Murcia, Spain, Ukraine's fans and players created a lively atmosphere, making it feel like a home game in the early stages. The energetic support seemed to energize the Ukrainian team, setting the stage for their impressive comeback victory.
Thibaut Courtois, returning to the Belgian team amidst controversy, was put to the test early on as Ukraine's Viktor Tsygankov and Roman Yaremchuk forced him into action. However, Belgium gradually gained momentum, with Kevin De Bruyne and Leandro Trossard attempting to break the deadlock, although their efforts sailed off-target. Andriy Lunin, Ukraine's goalkeeper, made a brave intervention to thwart Romelu Lukaku's forward surge.
Ukraine suffered a setback in the 25th minute when Yukhym Konoplia was forced off injured after Trossard accidentally fell on the right-back's leg. Despite this unfortunate incident and Belgium's increasing dominance of possession, Sergiy Rebrov's team maintained their defensive solidity, limiting Belgium's scoring opportunities. Thomas Meunier squandered a potential chance by completely missing the ball, while De Bruyne's clever strike hit the side netting. However, Belgium's pressure eventually paid off in the 40th minute when Lukaku expertly glanced De Bruyne's precise free-kick past Lunin.
The second half saw Andriy Lunin make two crucial saves to deny Kevin De Bruyne's powerful shots from outside the box, as Ukraine continued to weather the storm. However, their woes deepened when Oleksiy Sych, who had replaced the injured Yukhym Konoplia, was forced off before the hour mark. Oleksandr Zinchenko's free-kick then cannoned off the post, leaving Ukraine's fans holding their breath.
But Ukraine's fortunes took a dramatic turn when Oleksiy Hutsuliak, one of three substitutes brought on after Sych's injury, made an instant impact. Hutsuliak dispossessed Maxim De Cuyper and slid home the equalizer just five minutes after coming on. Another substitute, Vladyslav Vanat, then scored seven minutes later, converting Viktor Tsygankov's deflected pass. Incredibly, Ukraine added a third goal just three minutes later, as Ilya Zabarnyi poked Zinchenko's cross into the net.
Ukraine's stunning comeback earned them a significant advantage heading into the second leg of the playoff in Genk on Sunday. The Blue and Yellow also extended their unbeaten run to five consecutive matches, while condemning Belgium to a sixth consecutive winless match - their longest such streak since 2009. Moreover, Belgium suffered their fourth defeat in a row, leaving them with a mountain to climb in the return leg.
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