Ukraine vs Slovenia in a Euro 2016 qualification play-off

Ukraine’s hopes of finally ending their play-off hoodoo and qualifying for Euro 2016 were given a huge boost with a 2-0 first-leg victory over Slovenia in Lviv.

“It’s always displeasing when you lose a match but today we’ve suffered a defeat at the hands of very strong opponents”, Slovenia’s head coach Srecko Katanec said, with the second leg due in Maribor on Tuesday.

Yarmolenko fed Artem Fedetskiy and his flawless low cross was turned in by Yevhen Seleznyov.

Both Rene Krhin and Jasmin Kurtic believed the 26-year-old was going to pull the trigger with his left foot, but he feigned a shot and moved the ball on to his right to rifle past Handanovic and into the far corner.

33′ – SAVE! Yarmolenko, the goalscorer, tees off Rybalka who strikes a first-timed shot from distance forcing Handanovic into a good save.

Ukraine have failed to win any of their previous five play-off ties to reach a major worldwide tournament and they wasted a glut of second-half opportunities to score a third goal and increase their first-leg cushion.

There was little Handanovic could do about that, but he ensured Slovenia did not fall further behind just before the hour mark with a reflex save to stop Garmash’s diving header. Only Shevchenko has more (10).

“We have only played the first leg.” he told national television.

FC’s Steve Nicol says Ukraine can break their playoff jinx after beating Slovenia in their 1st leg Euro 2016 playoff.

Ukraine could not settle for a draw against Spain, so they featured an aggressive starting formation and will stick to this strategy.

Andriy Yarmolenko (Ukraine) – Took his goal exceptionally well, breaking the deadlock on 22 minutes and was involved again in his side’s second goal.