Ukraine’s Under-21s maintained their 100 per cent record in Group F of the UEFA U21 Euro 2025 qualifiers when they defeated Northern Ireland U21s by two goals to one in Ballymena tonight.
Tommy Wright’s side pushed them all the way, however the Ukrainians showed a ruthless streak when grabbing two first half goals that ultimately secured the victory.
Northern Ireland midfielder Charlie Allen scored a penalty in the 81st minute in front of 700 fans at the Showgrounds, but the home side could not force an equaliser in the closing stages.
Wright made just one change from the team that started the 0-0 draw against England in another Group F qualifier in Ballymena on Friday. Allen came in for JJ McKiernan, who dropped to the bench.
Ukraine took the lead in the 10th minute. Midfielder Oleh Orcheretko found Nazar Voloshyn in space just inside the penalty area and the winger’s deflected low shot ended up in the back of the net.
Four minutes later midfielder Ivan Varfolomieiev had a shot blocked as the visitors tried to turn the screw.
Northern Ireland battled hard before fashioning a good opportunity on 24 minutes. Aaron Donnelly showed some lovely skill to get past his marker at the edge of the area and fire a ball into the danger zone where it was met by fellow defender Tommy Fogarty but his powerful header went over the bar.
Ukraine keeper Ruslan Neshcheret saved at Justin Devenny’s feet as the home side threatened once again.
The visitors doubled their lead on the half-hour mark. Attacker Maksym Braharu played a clever one-two with midfielder Yehor Yarmoliuk inside the area before taking the ball wide of Charles and stroking it home.
Allen steered a shot wide of the target as Northern Ireland tried to get back into it.
Then Charles dived to his right to push out a well-struck shot from Ukrainian striker Ihor Krasnopir.
Fogarty’s header was off target as Northern Ireland pressed, and then captain Dale Taylor fired in a cross which evaded everyone.
Northern Ireland, who were narrowly defeated 1-0 by Ukraine in the reverse fixture a year ago, began the second half on the front foot. Benji Magee, who had just come on as a substitute, had a shot blocked before Allen tested the keeper with a low drive.
Donnelly’s fine long range effort curled just past the post as Wright’s side took the game to Ukraine and Magee fired a shot wide.
Ukraine’s first chance of the second period saw Braharu produce a powerful low shot which Charles saved with his feet.
Charles was in action again to push out a powerful hit from Voloshyn, and not long after that the Northern Ireland keeper palmed away another effort from the same player.
On 81 minutes Northern Ireland pulled a goal back. Allen was hauled down inside the penalty area as he bore down on goal – and Ukraine captain Arsenii Batahov was given his marching orders by referee Oliver Reitala. Allen (main image) then stepped up to take the penalty and coolly fired it into the bottom corner.
Northern Ireland defender Terry Devlin missed the target and then substitute Matty Lusty tried an audacious overhead kick inside the area but unfortunately he did not connect with the ball properly.
Right at the death all the Northern Ireland players, including keeper Charles, went up for a corner but Neshcheret clutched Devenny’s delivery. Shortly after the ref blew the full-time whistle - and Ukraine had won eight out of eight.
Northern Ireland: Pierce Charles, Terry Devlin, Sean Stewart, Tommy Fogarty, Aaron Donnelly, Michael Forbes, Darren Robinson, Patrick Kelly, Dale Taylor (captain), Charlie Allen, Justin Devenny.
Substitutes: (used) Benji Magee, JJ McKiernan, Barry Baggley, Matty Lusty; (unused) Stephen McMullan (GK), Shea Kearney, Ethan McGee, Euan Williams, Tom Atcheson.
Ukraine: Ruslan Neshcheret, Illia Krupskyi, Artem Smoliakov, Volodymyr Saliuk, Arsenii Batahov (captain), Ivan Varfolomieiev, Oleh Ocheretko, Yehor Yarmoliuk, Ihor Krasnopir, Maksym Braharu, Nazar Voloshyn.
Substitutes: Yakiv Kinareikin (GK), Roman Didyk, Vitalii Roman, Maksym Melnychenko, Illia Kvasnytsia, Yaroslav Karabin, Oleh Fedor, Ihor Horbach, Valentyn Rubchynskyi.
Action from Ballymena
