Ukraine to face England in Euro 2020 quarter-finals
England will face Ukraine in the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 after their dramatic last-16 victory over Sweden at Hampden Park, sealed in injury time in extra time.
Artem Dovbyk struck with moments left against ten-man Sweden to set up a huge tie for his country in Rome on Saturday.
Manchester City’s Oleksandr Zinchenko volleyed Ukraine into an early lead before Emil Forsberg struck before the break to level things.
No winner could be found in normal time before Dovbyk saved the ordeal of his penalties with his late winner.
After the chaos of England’s historic victory over Germany at Wembley, attention turned to their last eight opponents.
A slow burner sparked into life thanks to an inspired outside of the boot ball from Andriy Yarmolenko – a man transformed in an international shirt – which was met by Zinchenko’s powerful volley, far too hot for Sweden’s Robin Olsen in goal.
The goal came against the run of play as the Swede’s controlled most of the proceedings, Forsberg and Alexander Isak shining in Scotland.
The former had his side level with a fourth goal of the tournament, his strike from range deflected off Illia Zabarnyi and in to restore well deserved parity.
The RB Leipzig winger tormented Ukraine and could have been on a hat-trick in the second half, striking the post moments after Ukraine had done so and then jinking past two blue shirts before bending one onto the crossbar.
Forsberg was playing like a man possessed but could not turn the tide in normal time and into an extra half an hour we went.
Both sides looked to inject life with changes before Sweden were rocked. Marcus Danielson caught Ukraine substitute Artem Besedin high and ugly after clearing the ball, for which he was shown a red card after review.
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Players dropped like flies throughout the extra time, a sight that will have not been unwelcome on the England bus back from London.
Both sides looked to be stumbling towards penalties before, finally, Ukraine found the energy to win it.
Zinchenko turned provider with a delicious cross onto the head of Dovbyk, whose header sent his side into unchartered waters, the last eight for the first time in their history.