UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifying: Late Mudryk winner sends Ukraine past Iceland and into Euro 2024
Ukraine's tears of despair turned to joy after they qualified for the Euro 2024 tournament with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Iceland in their playoff final on Tuesday at Poland's neutral but partisan Wroclaw Stadium.
Viktor Tsygankov and Mykhailo Mudryk scored second-half goals to complete the mission in a campaign in which Ukraine have been forced to play 'home' games in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Poland following Russia's February 2022 invasion of the country, which sparked a war that is still ongoing.
Albert Gudmundsson had put Iceland ahead in the first half, but they gave up possession and the initiative as they struggled to contain their opponents for much of the game.
Ukraine will be making their fourth consecutive appearance in the continental finals, this time in Group E alongside Belgium, Slovakia, and Romania, against whom they will begin their campaign on June 17.
"Thank you boys! Thank you to the team! For proving once again that when Ukrainians face challenges but refuse to give up and continue the fight, they invariably win," Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a message on Telegram.
Chants of "Ukraine, Ukraine" rang throughout the stadium, with scenes of jubilation and yellow and blue flags waving not unlike what one might expect if the game were in Kyiv.
Poland is home to a large number of war refugees, many of whom will have been in the stadium to witness one of their team's greatest victories despite the circumstances.
It makes up for Ukraine missing out on the last World Cup due to a playoff defeat by Wales, and it is the second game in a row that they have had to come from behind to win after defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-1 in Thursday's semi-final.
"I think this is a very important victory for the entire Ukrainian people, for our soldiers," coach Serhiy Rebrov told reporters.
"I am very happy for the players, because these two (playoff) games were very difficult and nerve-wracking. Both before and after the matches, we said that these victories are for our country, people, defenders who defend our freedom."
"Everyone understands how important this victory is."
Gudmundsson scored a sublime goal to give Iceland the lead on the half-hour mark, picking up the ball just outside the box, beating two defenders to create space, and firing a precise shot into the corner of the net.
The second half began quickly, and Ukraine tied the game with a fine equaliser.
Tsygankov was spotted on the right wing and cut inside, drifting into a central position before firing low into the bottom corner of the net with his left foot.
Andriy Lunin, Ukraine's goalkeeper, made a superb save to deny Jon Thorsteinsson, sprawling to his left to claw away a curling effort from just inside the area, and Ukraine went on to win.
Mudryk scored only his second international goal, latching onto a cut-back from Georgiy Sudakov and burying the ball into the net, ending Iceland's hopes and allowing Ukrainians to celebrate a victory that secures their team's place in Germany.
"We were still in it when it was 1-1," Iceland winger Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson told newspaper Morgunbladid.
"Then comes the second goal and we've spent an incredible amount of energy trying to keep (the scores level), so that's what completely changed the game."
SportsLigue