Dramatic ending and historic chance: Ukraine defeated Iceland and secured a place in the 2026 World Cup qualifying play-offs
Фото: УАФ
In Warsaw, at the Marshal Józef Piłsudski Polish Army Stadium, the Ukrainian national team defeated Iceland 2-0 in a World Cup qualifying match. Thanks to this result, the team guaranteed itself participation in the playoffs.
This is reported by “Pryamiy” .
The match between Ukraine and Iceland took place on Sunday, November 16, as part of the World Cup qualifiers in Group D. The match was held in Warsaw and gathered a significant number of fans of the Ukrainian team.
The Ukrainian team started the game actively and was the first to create several dangerous moments near Olafsson’s goal. At the beginning of the match, Zubkov and Vanat shot at goal several times, but without result. In the 24th minute, Tsygankov shot from the edge of the penalty area, and the ball hit the crossbar.
Iceland responded with attacks of their own, in particular after Gudmundsson’s shot the ball went for a corner. Before the end of the first half, Jouganesson received a yellow card for holding Malinowski. The first forty-five minutes ended without goals being scored.
Iceland increased the pressure early in the second half. After a shot by Willumsson, Trubin made a crucial save and turned the ball for a corner. Ukraine responded with activity on the flanks and a series of passes by Tsygankov and Zubkov.
In the 69th minute, the coaching staff made a double substitution: Yaremchuk and Shaparenko came on for Vanat and Yarmolyuk. This added freshness to the attack. In the 77th minute, Hutsulyak replaced Malinovsky.
The decisive episode was in the 83rd minute . After Tsygankov’s corner kick, Gutsulyak headed the ball to the far post, where Zubkov headed it accurately and opened the scoring.
In added time, Ukraine doubled their lead. In the 90+3 minute, Gutsulyak shot from outside the penalty area, and the ball, after a ricochet from Paulsson, ended up in Olafsson’s goal.
The match ended with a score of 2:0 in favor of the Ukrainian team. Malinovsky and Konoplya received yellow cards for Ukraine. In Iceland, Jouganesson received a warning.
Ukraine’s application also included Volynets, Riznyk, Bondar, Voloshyn, Karavaev, Mykhavko and Mykhailychenko. Iceland had Einarsson, Valdimarsson, Thordarsson G., Bjarkasson, Baldursson, Glinsson, Gretarsson, Gunnarsson and Thordarsson S. in reserve.
After the victory , Ukraine qualified for the World Cup qualifying play-offs . The team’s potential opponents in March 2026 could be the Czech Republic, Ireland, Albania, Sweden, Romania or Northern Ireland. Ukraine will most likely be in the first seeding pot.
The play-off draw will take place in Zurich on November 20 at 2:00 p.m. Kyiv time .
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