Rybalka to the rescue for Ukraine

Serhiy Rybalka struck five minutes from time for ten-man Ukraine to send the hosts into the semi-finals of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship at the expense of their opponents.

Suspended
Down to ten men following the 45th-minute dismissal of Vitaliy Kaverin, Ukraine looked to be heading for a third Group A draw until Rybalka stole in ahead of several static Swiss defenders after Oliver Klaus had saved his initial close-range effort. The hosts − who will also be without their match-winner in the semi-final against Serbia following a booking in the immediate aftermath of his goal − finish the section in second place, level on points with England, who also progressed thanks to a record-breaking 7-1 defeat of Slovenia.

Klaus saves
Ukraine opened the scoring against England in their last match after two minutes, a feat they would have eclipsed were it not for the reflexes of Klaus, who expertly tipped away Serhiy Kryvtsov's close-range effort following Dmytro Korkishko's free-kick. Soon after only a last-ditch challenge from François Affolter prevented Kaverin from getting his shot away, while on eleven minutes Denys Garmash somehow headed wide when unmarked five metres out.

Red card
Klaus came to his team's rescue again moments later, turning Garmash's low effort around the post, before the latter had his third effort on goal inside the opening 20 minutes when he fired straight at the Switzerland No1. Claude Ryf's side were struggling to gain any headway but their spirits were lifted in added time at the end of the first half when Kaverin was shown his second yellow card in the space of seven minutes.

Positive intention
The hosts required a win to remain in the tournament so despite being a man down coach Yuriy Kalitvintsev introduced Sergii Shevchuk, a striker, at half-time. However, the change was having little effect as Switzerland began to emerge as an attacking force, threatening just before the hour when Sébastien Wüthrich embarked on a jinking run, played a one-two with Vullnet Basha and lifted the ball over the crossbar.

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Ukraine were still, marginally, enjoying more of the possession but were struggling to turn it into any end product in the final third. With 15 minutes remaining, Kalitvintsev made another attacking change, replacing defender Dmytro Kushnirov with Artur Karnoza and, with time running out, Ukraine's advances finally paid dividends as Rybalka broke Swiss hearts.