Dylan Bettencourt
Wales secured their spot at the Qatar World Cup later this year with a 1-0 victory over Ukraine on Sunday night.
Ukraine were sent a flag by the nation’s army in the hopes that it would inspire the team to achieve what so many thought impossible.
The inspiration showed to be working as Ukraine came out the blocks flying as it looked only a matter of time before they scored.
However, it was Wales who struck first through a Gareth Bale free-kick.
The winger put the ball into a dangerous area in the box which forced Ukrainian Andriy Yarmolenko to get his head onto it, but he put the ball into his own net.
Yarmolenko and Ukraine looked distraught and suffered the rest of the first-half as Wales looked to double their lead.
Ukraine came out in the second-half a completely different team as it was one way traffic for Wales who battled an attacking onslaught.
Wales will have their goalkeeper to thank for taking them to the nation’s first World Cup since 1958.
Wayne Hennesy made several world class saves as Ukraine had over 20 shots on goal.
The majority of the second-half was played in the Welsh half as Ukraine looked to equalise the encounter and take the game to extra-time.
But Wales held on and secured their spot in Qatar.
With the whole world behind them, Ukraine will feel as if they perhaps deserved a better result at the Cardiff City Stadium.
They will feel even more hard done by after a first-half penalty decision went against them when Yarmolenko’s heels were clipped in the box.
The Virtual Assistant Referee (VAR) looked at the incident and decided against awarding Ukraine a penalty.
On the night, Ukraine were the better team but after failing to get past Welsh defence, their dream of qualifying for Qatar came to an end.
Despite the result, Ukraine’s performances are far beyond what anyone could have imagined when Russia invaded on 24 February.
For 90 minutes against Scotland and now against Wales, the Ukraine players and the entire country could forget about their war with Russia and focus on their football team.
Image source: @CBSSportsGolazo
