Artful Zarytskyi undoes Russia

Ukraine took a significant step towards the UEFA European Under-19 Championship finals as they opened their Elite round Group 6 campaign with a 1-0 win against Russia in Moscow.

Zarytskyi winner
The only goal at the Krylya Sovetov stadium arrived in the 56th minute, Ukraine defender Oleksandr Zarytskyi scoring what proved to be the winner. The match attracted attention from some high-profile coaches from both countries, with Russia coach Yuri Semin and one of his predecessors Boris Ignatiev present along with Ukraine Under-21 coach Pavlo Yakovenko and former FC Dynamo Kyiv coach Olexiy Mykhaylichenko.

Defensive excellence
Russia were in control early on, but the disciplined visitors did not give them a sight of goal, with FC Obolon Kyiv defender Kostyantin Kovalenko especially impressive in the back line. An injury to Ukraine's Pavlo Ksionz forced his replacement by Ruslan Fomin on the half-hour, and the substitute soon had a golden chance to break the deadlock when both he and strike partner Oleksandr Gladkyy found themselves clean through, but neither could find the target.

Decisive moment
Yuri Kalitvintsev's side continued to look the more threatening in the early stages of the second half and got their reward in the 56th minute as Zarytskyi placed a shot beyond the advancing Russian goalkeeper Stanislav Kozirev to put Ukraine in front. A minute later, however, Ukraine went down to ten men as Olexiy Polyanskiy received a second yellow card for dissent.

Ukraine hold firm
Fomin was subsequently taken off as holding midfield player Kostyantin Kravchenko was introduced, but still Gladkyy had a number of chances to increase their lead after some swift counterattacking. The Russians, meanwhile, could not carve out any clear-cut chances and also ended a player short as Leonid Boev was shown a second yellow card with three minutes left. Ukraine next face Norway on Friday while Lithuania – 2-0 losers to the Norwegians today – are Russia's next opponents.