Ukraine beats Switzerland 2:1 in opening round of UEFA Nations League

The national soccer team of Ukraine defeated its Swiss counterpart 2:1 during the opening round of the UEFA Nations League, a biennial international soccer competition among top national teams in Europe, which took place at Ukraine’s Arena Lviv stadium without spectators on Sept. 3.

The first half of the game started in Ukraine’s favor as 10 minutes into the game midfielder Ruslan Malinovskiy and forward Andriy Yarmolenko almost scored a goal, yet the ball hit the goal post.

Four minutes later, defender Oleksandr Tymchyk and Yarmolenko attacked the Swiss again, this time successfully scoring a goal for Ukraine.

But the Swiss counterattacked and on the 34th minute and Swiss striker Haris Seferovic scored an equalizer into the corner of the Ukrainian goal from outside of the penalty area.

The Ukrainians stepped up their game after the break, however.

“In the second half of the game, it turned out better. In general, the team began to play with more confidence after the break,” said Bohdan Mykhailychenko, defender of the Ukrainian team.

Ukraine took the lead on the 68th minute, when midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko’s spin kick went directly into the top corner of the goal from 22 meters away.

Mykhailychenko said that “in the second half the Swiss got a little tired, we got more space and managed to score the ball.”

After the goal, Zinchenko held up a black shoulder band in recognition of Ukraine’s national team doctor who died from the COVID-19 virus at the end of July.

On the 71st minute, striker Roman Yaremchuk’s ball from 20 meters away went past the Swiss defenders but hit the goal post.

Ukraine’s national soccer team gained their victory in the first match of League A Group 4 of the UEFA competition. They will be playing the second match on Sept. 6 against Spain in Madrid.

“Spain is a top team. Every (soccer player) dreams of playing against such a team. Now we will recover and prepare for the match,” said Mykhailychenko.