Spain U-21 versus Ukraine U-21 – Under 21 European Championships: Second half review
Spain and Ukraine kicked off the second half of their last group stage match at MCH Arena on 19th of June, 2011 as Spain resumed their monopoly over ball possession from the first half. In the 52nd minute,
Ukraine threatened to build together an offensive move of their own as Yarmolenko tried his luck from outside the Spanish penalty area. However http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ukraine-c3032 a route back into the match as he easily handled the ball without spilling
it.
In the 55th minute, Ukraine found a past way the Spanish resistance as Zozulya managed to connect with a cross from the right hand side but the European minnows could not test De Gea as Zozulya’s effort was well wide
of the mark. In the 63rd minute http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Spain-c3011 had a wonderful chance to add to their two goal lead as they were awarded a corner kick after some good work by Montoya but the ensuing set piece was a wasteful one as the ball sailed out of play for a goal
kick.
In the 66th minute, Spain were on the verge of scoring their third goal as Mata and Montoya combined on the left hand side. This time Mata played in his team mate Ander but the young Spanish midfielder’s shot was blocked
by Ukraine’s http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Defence-c38904 as the score line remained at two nil in favour of the Spanish U-21 contingent.
In the aftermath of the Spanish attacking move Denys Garmash was booked by the referee for unsporting conduct as he caught Mata on the ankle with a late challenge after the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Valencia-c40863 forward had played in Ander. In the 70th
minute, Montoya followed his counterpart into the referee’s book after he was judged to have hand balled near the half way line.
In the 72nd minute, Ukraine’s hopes of a late comeback were thrashed out of the window when Garmash brought down http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Juan-c19640 Mata inside the Ukrainian penalty area. The referee was on the spot and he had a clear view of the
incident. Thus he made the decision to show Garmash his second yellow card of the match. Mata stepped up to take the spot kick and sent it swerving past the Ukrainian goalkeeper as Spain added another goal to their lead.
With the score line at 3-0 in favour of the Spanish U-21 team Ukrainian heads dropped and Spain played out the rest of the encounter at an easy tempo. However Ukraine did have an opportunity to score a consolation goal in the 74th
minute when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-c10409 De Gea brought down Konoplyanka inside the Spanish penalty area. However the young shot stopper made up for his mistake when he easily held onto Konoplyanka’s penalty kick in order to retain his team’s clean sheet.
Thus the match eventually came to an end with Spain progressing to the semi-finals of the U-21 European Championships. Ukraine failed to make it past the group stages as they failed to win against the Spanish. Final Score: Spain
3 – 0 Ukraine.
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