Lyndon Dykes double eases Scotland to Nations League win over Ukraine
Lyndon Dykes double eases Scotland to Nations League win over Ukraine: Scotland’s international comeback will enter its latest chapter in two games.
After a dominating second half, Scotland defeated Ukraine and ascended to the top of their Nations League group.
If Scotland can take two points from their next two games against the Republic of Ireland and Ukraine in Glasgow on Saturday and Krakow on Tuesday, they will win Group B1.
Despite making their country proud, the Ukrainian football team finished second place here. Achieving this result against such formidable opponents was no small feat for Scotland. The final score did not reflect well on Steve Clarke’s team.
Admit
Scotland’s manager admitted, “It was a good performance, and we are delighted with it, but we have to go and reset for Saturday.” Ultimately, “Saturday is about doing ourselves proud.”
Glasgow still remembers the time that Ukraine played at Hampden Park. World Cup play-off finalist Oleksandr Petrakov’s squad will face Wales in an emotional showdown. As a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March, the match was postponed until June.
The Ukrainians were popular winners back then, but Scotland’s loss hurt. Since this match did not require a three-man defense, Clarke’s decision may indicate that he had learned from previous matches.
Because of Andy Robertson’s absence, the choice was simplified (three at the back was used so that he and Kieran Tierney may both play), but it was still a major shift.
The return of Scott McTominay to the midfield, where Ukraine found so much success three months ago, was made possible by this change. Since Oleksandr Zinchenko is injured and unavailable, Petrakov will be severely disadvantaged in their upcoming Nations League matchup.
There was loud booing from a segment of the home crowd during the one minute of ovation for the late Queen Elizabeth II, a patron of the Scottish FA.
Highlights
Weirdly for a contest of this magnitude, the mood afterward was sombre. Scotland’s path to Euro 2020 highlights the importance of the Nations League as a stepping stone to major tournaments.
The action on the field was rather calm as well until Che Adams’ 10th minute shot tested Ukraine goalie Anatoliy Trubin.
Following this, Scotland had their best period of the game, with Ryan Christie’s ball narrowly missing Adams and Stuart Armstrong’s furious strike stinging the palms of Trubin.
Nathan Patterson, who has been outstanding for Everton, was forced to leave in the 25th minute after injuring his ankle on the field.
Statement
A stretcher carried Patterson from the field. The verdict doesn’t look good,” Clarke said afterward.
Even though Scotland dominated the first half, they were toothless in the final third. Valeriy Bondar, who wiped out Adams as he sped towards the goal in first-half stoppage time, does not fit this description. The WWF would have been a better fit for that action.
After a promising start to the second quarter for Scotland, their best chance came and went as Armstrong shot high. McTominay, having a great time, set up the Southampton player with a chance by using his feet in clever ways.
Aaron Hickey saw his low shot from 20 yards out get deflected wide. Hampden noticed Ukraine was losing steam with half an hour remaining.
Following Adams’s head-on collision with a John McGinn cross, the visitors were spared by the surrounding woodwork. Adams landed another header on goal and prompted a left-foot to save from Trubin.
This was starting to seem like one of those nights, but then McGinn scored the goal Scotland deserved. Adams had a shot stopped, and Tierney’s pass took a massive deflection right into Adams’s lap, so some luck was involved.
Comment
While pressured by Bondar, McGinn displayed great strength to keep his shot low and to the left of Trubin’s goal.
A tribute to Scotland’s pestering was that Ukraine seldom held on to the ball. Clarke put in Ryan Fraser as he sought to claim a second goal and had good reason to think Scotland might score again.
The Newcastle winger followed the script by assisting with both Lyndon Dykes’ goals. Dykes has twice been the highest jumper for Fraser’s left-footed corner kicks. Expect a lot of action this coming Saturday.