Dylan Bettencourt
Ukraine are one step closer to qualifying for the Fifa World Cup final after defeating Scotland 3-1 on Wednesday night.
Ukraine were playing in their first competitive fixture since the Russian invasion on 24 February.
There were concerns that the team in yellow would play with too much emotion but the Ukrainians harnessed their emotions to perfection.
Ukraine came out the block firing and looked dangerous on the attack.
The entire world was rooting for Ukraine to get a good result in Scotland and that looked increasingly likely after Andriy Yarmolenko found the back of the net.
The West Ham United winger showed incredible technique to lob the ball over the Scotland goalkeeper to mass celebration in the crowd.
The game, although played in Scotland, felt like a Ukraine home game with the amount of support they received.
Ukraine went into the break one goal up with the emotions that this victory could lift the spirits of those back home.
Regardless of the result, playing in this fixture alone showed great strength and willpower from Ukraine as its war against Russia rages on.
The conflict-torn nation started the second-half with the same passion and aggression, and it paid off just four minutes later when Roman Yaremchuk scored Ukraine’s second.
However, just when the game was drawing to a close and Ukraine felt they had one foot in the World Cup final playoff, Scotland drew one goal back.
Callum McGregor scored with just ten minutes left on the clock and the Hampden Park crowd felt a comeback was on the cards.
But it was not meant to be for Scotland as Ukraine sealed the victory when Artem Dovbyk found the net in the final minute of the game.
Ukraine ended the fixture as 3-1 winners.
Ukraine will now have one final chance to book their spot in Qatar for the World Cup when they face Wales on Sunday at the Cardiff City Stadium.
The Ukraine players said they had hoped for 90 minutes to take their supporters’ minds off the war and inspire positive emotions in the country, they succeeded, not only in Ukraine but all over the world.
Image source: @Goal
