Artem Dovbyk netted a dramatic winner in stoppage time at the quit of greater time as Ukraine squeezed previous 10-man Sweden 2-1 at Hampden Park on Tuesday to e book a Euro 2020 quarter-final conflict with England.
The closing whistle used to be met with wild scenes of occasion as Ukraine reached the closing eight of a foremost match for solely the 2d time, after they made the quarters at the 2006 World Cup.
The two facets had been degree at 1-1 after ninety minutes following desires from Oleksandr Zinchenko and Sweden’s in-form Emil Forsberg however the tide modified when Sweden defender Marcus Danielson was once despatched off 9 minutes into more time.
Sweden seemed resigned to taking the recreation to penalties, however Dovbyk had different ideas, assembly Zinchenko’s go in the 121st minute to settle the contest and ship Ukraine into uncharted European Championship territory.
England, who have been startled by means of Iceland in the knockout stage of the closing European Championship 5 years ago, will be firm favourites in opposition to Andriy Shevchenko’s aspect in Rome on Saturday.
Highlights:
But having in no way given up in opposition to a Sweden group that got here into their last-16 conflict unbeaten from the group stage, the place they finished above Spain, the decided Ukrainians will be no pushovers.
“Both groups performed very well,” Shevchenko informed a information conference. “It was once an fascinating match.
“Neither aspect desired to lose so we received this drama at the end. With this overall performance and commitment, our group has deserved the love of the entire country.”
A small contingent of Ukraine supporters have been at Hampden to witness their side’s first-ever look in a European Championship knockout round, and the group almost obtained off to a dream begin as Roman Yaremchuk was once denied by way of a clever Robin Olsen save.
Sweden had been inflicting issues in an wonderful opening too, however it used to be Ukraine who edged in front, with Manchester City’s Zinchenko hammering domestic after 27 minutes having been picked out by using a luxurious Andriy Yarmolenko omit with the outdoor of his boot
Having fallen at the back of in the match for the first time, Sweden regarded brief of thoughts and wanted a slice of success to get themselves lower back into the game, with Forsberg’s speculative strike taking a massive deflection earlier than discovering the internet simply earlier than halftime.
Forsberg, who now has 4 desires in the tournament, one in the back of main scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, then accompanied Ukraine’s Serhiy Sydorchuk in hitting the woodwork after the break, now not as soon as however twice.
Only Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored extra than Forsberg in Euro finals records for Sweden, and except the RB Leipzig forward’s desires — two in the decisive 3-2 victory over Poland and the winner in opposition to Slovakia — Sweden would have gained simply one factor in the crew stage.
But he, like the relaxation of his group mates tired, and with neither aspect capable to locate a winner, more time followed.
Sweden’s undertaking was once then made all the greater challenging as Danielson used to be despatched off for a excessive and unsafe address on Artem Besedin, following a VAR review.
Another last-16 penalty shootout appeared inevitable, following the drama of world champions France’s exit on Monday, however Ukraine had one ultimate assault in them, with Dovbyk stealing the headlines.
His aim used to be the second-latest in European Championship history, in the back of Turkey’s Semih Senturk in 2008, and the modern match-winning strike in the competition, with his effort possibly to go down in Ukrainian footballing folklore.