1:2 catastrophe reported after Ukraine’s national team conceded a late goal to lose against Hungary. The defeat in Trnava leaves the side facing severe pressure in its remaining autumn fixtures.
Maldera Uses 4-4-2 Formation to Create Early Chances
Acting head coach Andrea Maldera deployed a 4-4-2 formation to stabilize the lineup. Illia Zabarnyi and Oleksandr Sarapiy anchored the central defense, while Anatoliy Trubin started in goal. Vladyslav Veleten made his long-awaited debut on the left wing, complementing Viktor Tsygankov on the right.
The tactical shift created multiple scoring opportunities before halftime. Oleh Oceretko hit the crossbar in the 11th minute after a precise delivery from Volodymyr Nazaryna. Mathor Ponomarenko and Illia Krasnopyr repeatedly tested Hungary’s backline with high-intensity pressing, with Ponomarenko working deeper and Krasnopyr attacking space behind defenders. Hungarian players registered their first and only shot of the first half in the 45th minute, failing to break Trubin’s resistance while relying on physical challenges to disrupt the tempo.
Hungary Scores First Before Ukraine Finds Late Equalizer
Hungary seized momentum early in the second period. Dominick Szoboszlai engineered a breakthrough in the 52nd minute, feeding a pass past Ukraine’s defensive block to Miloš Tóth, who beat Trubin from close range to open the scoring. Croatian referee Igor Pajac declined to issue yellow cards despite hard challenges, including Schafer striking Tsygankov in the solar plexus, Lukach waving away toward Zabarnyi, and Oceretko nearly having his legs broken.
The tactical changes eventually produced an equalizer in the 83rd minute. Oleksandr Pikhalyonok curled a corner kick toward the far post, where Yaremchuk redirected the ball home with his head to make it 1-1. During the second half, Khlan, Yaremchuk, and Vanat replaced Veleten, Ponomarenko, and Krasnopyr on the 60th minute. Parity lasted only two minutes. Raimund Tóth delivered a cross from the right flank that sailed over Sarapiy, allowing defender Csinger to finish with a volley and secure a 2-1 victory for Hungary.
Ukraine Needs November Wins to Secure Top Two Finish
The result leaves both teams in a tight group table where every point carries weight for European qualification seedings, with both sides previously holding four points before the match while Ukraine held second place thanks to a victory in Budapest. Ukraine must regroup ahead of crucial November fixtures against Northern Ireland and Georgia. Maldera’s squad needs victories in those final matches to secure a top-two finish in the group and claim a spot in Pot 2 for the upcoming European Championship qualification draw.
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