Joyous Ukraine keep World Cup dream alive

Simon Evans |

Roman Yaremchuk celebrates with overjoyed Ukraine fans after scoring his side’s second at Hampden.
Roman Yaremchuk celebrates with overjoyed Ukraine fans after scoring his side’s second at Hampden.

Ukraine have kept alive their dream of reaching the World Cup finals, beating Scotland 3-1 in their play-off semi-final at Hampden Park in their first game since the Russian invasion of their country.

Ukraine will now face Wales on Sunday in Cardiff with the winners taking a place in November’s finals in Qatar.

The loss means Scotland remain without an appearance at a World Cup since 1998.

Goals from Andriy Yarmolenko and Roman Yaremchuk had put a confident and dominant Ukraine 2-0 up before Callum McGregor pulled a goal back for the Scots in the 79th minute.

The goal injected some belief into Scotland who applied some late pressure but deep into stoppage time substitute Artem Dovbyk finished off a counter-attack to secure an emotional victory for the visitors and their overjoyed fans. 

Reuters