Ukraine prosper in Liechtenstein
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
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Liechtenstein 2-5 Ukraine
Olexandr Noyok scored twice to keep the visitors in touch with the top sides in Group 5, but their hosts showed verve on the counter.
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Ukraine remain in touch with the leading pair in UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying Group 5 following a 5-2 win in Liechtenstein.
Lorenzo Lo Russo saved from Vladyslav Kulach in the first half before Liechtenstein took the lead when Simon Kühne scored from the penalty spot after a swift counterattack caught Ukraine cold. Olexandr Noyok's deflected shot evened up the scores and the visitors led by half-time, Serhiy Myakushko's header setting up Andriy Totovitskiy.
However, Liechtenstein showed plenty of fight as Kühne scored again after the break from Philipp Ospelt's perceptive ball. They faded in the final 20 minutes, though, with Noyok (70), Dmytro Yusov (77) and Totovitskiy (90+2) taking advantage. Victory means Ukraine can go second in the section with a win at home against Latvia on Sunday.
"It was good and interesting game," concluded Ukraine coach Serhiy Kovalets. "Liechtenstein played very well, especially on the break. Of course, it was disappointing for us to concede two goals but my players cancelled out the first one quickly and then scored some more to win this game."
