PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Ukraine’s under-20 men’s team put on a showcase final with its 3-1 come-from-behind win against South Korea on June 15 at Lodz Stadium in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland.
South Korea drew first blood with a penalty kick in the fifth minute by Lee Kang-in. Through modern Video Assistant Referee technology, the play that triggered the penalty was reviewed and showed that captain Hwang Taehyeon was tripped on the inside right edge of the penalty area.
Ukraine dominated the scoring for the remainder of the match with a brace of goals by Vladyslav Supriaha in the 34th and 52nd minutes. (He is among few players to score multiple goals in a U-20 World Cup final, including Oscar’s hat-trick in 2011 for Brazil.) Supriaha’s equalizer came off Serhiy Buletsa’s free kick returned by South Korea, when Supriaha captured a loose ball and fired it into the goal from eight yards. His second goal came off a deflected ball by Yukhim Konoplia, when Supriaha beat the goalkeeper in a one-on-one to propel Ukraine in the lead.
An incredible run by Heorhiy Tsitaishvili from the Ukrainian side of midfield to the penalty area was capped with a sweet goal that found the corner of the net in the 89th minute.
www.facebook.com/fifau20worldcup
Heorhiy Tsitaishvili knee-slides following Ukraine’s third goal of the final.
South Korea had multiple chances in the second half, with five corner kicks and some dangerous moments in front of Ukraine’s goal. However, goalkeeper Andriy Lunin showed strong hands and a little bit of luck, when a header by Lee Jae-ik deflected off Lunin’s hands to the top crossbar that narrowly avoided a goal for South Korea.
Lunin was awarded the Golden Glove award of the tournament, having kept “clean sheets” in 1-0 wins against Qatar in the group stage and Italy in the semifinal. Serhii Buletsa was awarded the Adidas Silver Ball award and Danylo Sikan received the Adidas Silver Boot award.
South Korea’s Lee Kang-in was awarded the Golden Boot award.
Ukraine’s performance at this World Cup was extraordinary considering that, historically, Ukraine never progressed passed the Round of 16. Although the focus has been on some of the leading goal-scorers during this tournament, commentators have noted that Ukraine played like a team from the beginning, and it was a team effort, not of individuals. Coach Oleksandr Petrakov thanked the players, staff and trainers for their combined efforts in reaching this result. The team was greeted upon arrival in Kyiv to a hero’s welcome, complete with champagne and flowers.