Ukraine’s national team suffered a defeat against Sweden in the semifinal match of the World Cup 2026 qualifying playoffs.
This is reported by Rivne24
The match ended with a score of 1:3 in favor of the Swedish team.
The initial pressure from the Swedes was a surprise for the Ukrainian players, leading to a conceded goal as early as the 6th minute. Benjamin Nygren burst into the penalty area and delivered a cross that was finished off by Arsenal forward Viktor D’yokeresh.
Subsequently, the “blue and yellows” managed to level the game, but Sweden came close to doubling their lead. Gudmundsson outplayed Oleksandr Tymchyk and hit the post of Anatoliy Trubin’s goal.
The second half of the match began with new attacks from the Swedes. Gudmundsson failed to convert his chance, but D’yokeresh scored again, beating two defenders and accurately shooting into the corner of the net.
Ukraine’s head coach Serhiy Rebrov responded to the unfavorable score with three substitutions. Yaremchuk, Ocheretko, and Ponomarenko came on for Vanat, Kalyuzhny, and Zubkov.
Despite the efforts of the Ukrainian players, the Swedes scored a third time. Trubin fouled D’yokeresh in his own penalty area as he broke through one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The referee awarded a penalty, which the striker confidently converted, completing his hat trick.
In the 90th minute, the Ukrainians managed to reduce the deficit – debutant Matviy Ponomarenko scored his first goal for the national team.
World Cup 2026
Qualifying Tournament, Semifinal
March 26
Ukraine – Sweden 1:3 (0:1)
Goals: 0:1 – 6 D’yokeresh, 0:2 – 51 D’yokeresh, 0:3 – 72 D’yokeresh (pen), 1:3 – 90 Ponomarenko
Ukraine’s Lineup: Trubin, Tymchyk, Zabarniy (c), Bondar, Mykolenko, Kalyuzhny (Hutsulyak, 60), Yarmoluk (Shaparenko, 85), Sudakov (Ponomarenko, 77), Tsygankov, Zubkov (Ocheretko, 60), Vanat (Yaremchuk, 60).
Sweden’s Lineup: Nordfeldt, Lagerbielke, Lindelöf (c), Hin (Starfeld, 37), Gudmundsson (Svensson, 77), Nygren, Karlström, Ayari (Bergvall, 77), Johansson, D’yokeresh, Elanga (Svanberg, 90+4).
Yellow Cards: Tymchyk (56), Trubin (71) — Nordfeldt (75).
Sweden advanced to the playoff final, where they will meet the Polish team. The qualifying final will take place on March 31.