Euro 2020 Match 2: Serbia Commence Euro Tournament with Win Over Ukraine

The following article provides an oversight for matches and tournaments taking place in 2020.

Euro 2020 Match 2: Serbia v Ukraine

Serbia Commence Euro Tournament with Win Over Ukraine

June 14, 2020

Serbia 2 Ukraine 0

 

Serbia scored twice in their opening Euro 2020 contest against the Ukraine.

 

The Stadio Olimpico match, played after the Belgium-Italy match, saw a modest crowd, suggesting it would have been for Italy to start their campaign here, instead of opening the tournament in Brussels. Nevertheless, Serbian supporters came in droves, far more than the Ukraine could muster.

 

The first seven minutes saw Serbia control the play as they sought to dominate across all areas of the field. This was especially the case down both wings, where the Serbians eventually crossed from the right with near precision. Adem Ljajić rose to the aerial challenge; only he landed and rolled his ankle in the process. He refused to be dissuaded from continuing and soon forwarded a long ball from just over the halfway line to the run of Aleksandar Mitrović, only for his marking man to be first to the ball. Mitrović placed enough pressure to wrestle back the ball and execute a shot, where the ball was blocked at the same time his foot connected. Quickly recovering, Mitrović passed to Aleksandar Katai, whose shot needed to be slowed by the Ukrainian defence, and Andriy Pyatov collected the ball with ease.

 

Luka Milivojević then set up Mitrović with a ball that cut between the Ukrainian defence. The striker tried chipping Pyatov, though it was not high enough and the Ukrainian goalkeeper hung onto the ball.

 

In the 22nd minute, Mitrović won the ball in an attacking position, and as the Ukrainians scurried back to regain their formation, the striker sent the ball though to Dušan Tadić. Two touches was all the Serbian attacking midfielder needed. He shot with his right boot beyond Pyatov and celebrated in true Serbian fashion.

 

Serbia again attacked in the 33rd minute, looking likely to score a second goal and taking full hold on the match. The shot came down to the injured Ljajić; his shot flew to the left of goal.

 

The Serbian coach seemed unperturbed on the sideline as his nation drilled for another attack, as though this was a training ground exercise. The Serbians won a free kick right next to the 18-yard box on the left wing, perfect for a chip pass to their height advantage. Branislav Ivanović rose above his counterparts to meet the ball first, only for the header to miss wide and out of play.

 

Again, Serbia won a free kick, this time further out on the right side of the field. The ball eventually ended up with Milivojević, whose blocked shot looped high in the air and straight to Pyatov.

 

Deep in the first half, Viktor Tsyhanhov found the ball on the left wing and cut a cross to Roman Yaremchuk. Even without being marked, the Ukrainian’s header also fell to the left of goal, and Serbia went into the break with a solitary lead.

 

Ljajić, smartly, left the park at halftime, and straight away the Ukraine exploited the shift in that opposing side. Working down the left, Ruslan Malinovskyi dinked around defenders before sending Yaremchuk into space with no one near him. He shot with his left, only to hit the woodwork. Serbia still had the advantage on the scoreboard.

 

Up until the hour mark, neither side could gain an advantage in the middle of the park as ferocious tackles and well-placed interceptions kept the possession turning over. Oleksandr Karavayev finally had a chot, and instead of going across the goalkeeper, aimed for the closer post. Serbia’s Emil Rockov was up to the challenge and parried the ball to safety.

 

Instead, Serbia gained the upper hand as they countered. Holding onto possession for a long period, they fought to find the chink in the Ukrainians’ armour. Find it they did. The ball was cut back from the left wing into the path of Mitrović and he placed the ball between defenders’ legs and the goalkeeper, somehow finding the back of the net for Serbia’s second goal.

 

Serbia had two more key attacks; Pyatov halted both. As for the Ukraine, their attempts to attack and gain back a goal ended without fruition. The Serbian defence had an answer for every challenge, giving them the ultimate boost as they are now placed second in Group A, poised to make it to the Round of 16. As for the Ukraine, they must rework their strategies and find a way to goal to defeat Belgium and Italy on their home turf.

 

Important aspects of the match:

22nd-minute for Tadić.

67th-minute goal for Mitrović.

 

Serbia had four more shots on target.

Even possession.

 

Serbia’s best afield: Tadić with his goal and most passes overall; Mitrović with his goal and assist; Aleksandar Kolarov at left back; Rockov in goals.

Katai with most dribbles overall, three key intercepts and a clearance.

Milivojević with most tackles overall.

Uroš Spajić with three key intercepts and three clearances.

 

 

Ukraine’s best afield: Pyatov with seven saves; Taras Stepanenko and Karavayev with most tackles for the Ukraine, four key intercepts and a clearance.

Tsyhankov with most passes and dribbles for the Ukraine.

Malinovskyi with five key intercepts and was fouled twice.

Mykola Matviyenko with four key intercepts and three clearances.

Serhiy Kryvtsov with four key intercepts and two clearances.