Norway, Ukraine, Netherlands and Serbia are fighting for the final place at this summer’s European U19 Championship in Slovakia. The other elite group matches are played in March. In principle, the Norwegian group should have done the same, but all fighting was postponed due to the Russian invasion and the war in Ukraine.
After a goalless first half, the promising Norwegian G19 national team got off to a rocky start after the break. Yehor Yarmoliuk sent Ukraine the lead from the penalty spot just after the break. But Norway fought back and equalized midway through the second half:
Andreas Schjelderup of North Zealand was fielded. Tobias Gulliksen from Strømsgodset was icy cold from eleven meters high.
The magic disappeared. The grind against Norwegian football
But six minutes later, the game’s third penalty kick was awarded, this time for Ukraine. For the second time, Yarmoliuk prepared from eleven meters away. This time, Norway’s last defender Magnus Rugland saved Ree, but Marko Sapuha came back and made it 2-1 for Ukraine.
Norway chased an equaliser but Ukraine looked to have equalized on the opposite side of the pitch when Navin Malysh made it 3-1 on the counter-attack.
But five minutes into extra time, Christos Zafeiris of Haugesund leveled it at 2-3 with a pearl on the crossbar – and breathed new life into the finish. But the last sprint came too late. Ukraine beat Norway 3-2.
36 Norwegian boys ravaged at the U19 European Championships. Half gone. What happened?
Norway’s G19 meet the Netherlands on June 4 and Serbia on June 7. The group winners will be the eighth team to play in the U19 European Championship this summer.
In addition to the host nation Slovakia, England, France, Italy, Israel, Romania and Austria are all set for the European Championship finals.
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