Scotland boys defeat Ukraine and win Pool A at the Euros

Scotland b v UkrScotland boys won a high-scoring game against Ukraine to top Pool A and qualify for the EuroHockey Youth Championship II semi-finals in Glasgow.

It was a fairly even opening to the game with no real chances for either side. Aidan McQuade had the game’s first shot on goal; zipping the ball wide of the goal from a penalty corner.

McQuade wouldn’t be denied for long and it was he who opened the scoring for Scotland. Again, from a penalty corner – a speciality of his, McQuade smashed the ball low into the net. 1-0.

Ukraine were tough opposition and they were rewarded with an equaliser through Roman Hyrenko. He levelled the score for Ukraine from a short corner, firing a low drive into the goal – then shooting his stick like a rifle in celebration.
Before long, Alan Johnston restored Scotland’s lead. Johnstone struck home a good finish just inside the Ukraine D.

It was a very tactical game, like a chess match. Both teams often cancelled each other out through good off-the-ball movement.

Johnston, however, managed to bag his second and Scotland’s third goal to make it 3-1, finishing off from an excellent build up with an improvised flick and hit into the net.

Scotland b v Ukr 1Half Time: Scotland boys 3 Ukraine boys 1

Early in the second half, Callum McKenzie nearly scored after good build-up by Johnston, but McKenzie shot just wide of the goal.

Ukraine denied Scotland when a brilliant save stopped MacKenzie again. He struck a powerful shot from just inside the D, but the goalie was equal to it.
Ukraine turned on the style and had a few minutes of clinical quality. Dzemukh made it 3-2, scoring a well-worked goal for Ukraine. Then he equalised for Ukraine, striking a brilliant finish high into the net.

There was a sense that the Scots could step their play up a notch any time they pleased, and they did so through Captain James Nairn. He twisted and turned into the D from the left then dived to flick the ball past the goalie for Scotland to take the lead again. 4-3.

Ukraine wouldn’t go away however, and they equalised through Oleksandr Lipskyi, scooping the ball into the goal from the edge of the D.
Owen Jenkins-Garcia restored Scotland’s lead immediately with a close range finish after a swift move down the right. 5-4.

McQuade and Webb both came close from penalty corners, but the game ended 5-4 to Scotland and put them through to the semi-finals as pool winners, to play Poland on riday.

Full Time: Scotland boys 5 Ukraine boys 4

Scotland b v Ukr 2

Recent posts:

Back to all news
Back to top