Euro 2012 Results – Sweden vs Ukraine

Sweden 1 – 2 Ukraine

This game I have to admit did start a little slow, the main players in the game, Ibrahimovic and Shevchenko to name a few, were very quiet but after the 20 minute mark the more well know players came more into the game.

Sweden only had 2 or 3 chances in the first half with Ibrahimovic playing a key role in each one of the chances, hitting the post with a header of his own for one. Ukraine similarly had a few chances with the game becoming an end to end match for the last 20 minutes of the first half. Shevchenko had a great chance to put Ukraine in the lead but he went for goal rather than crossing to the awaiting players in the middle.

The last 15 minutes of the second half was very entertaining with both teams playing at a high tempo and both looking as if they could take the lead. I feel I should mention also that the Ukraine keeper Pyatov he looked very dodgy between the sticks, he could do with a haircut as well.

The second half began much like the end of the first with both teams really having a go at each other. The deadlock was finally broken by Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a cool finish from a strong cross just poking it into the net from close range with the deftest of touches.

Just 3 Minutes later Andriy Shevchenko levelled it for the Ukraine excellently. The game really caught fire after that goal and the crowd went absolutely nuts! The Ukraine then poured on the pressure for a good 10 minutes looking for a second.

Ukraine then proved that hope dies last when Shevchenko heads in another to make it 2 – 1 just after 61 minutes. Ukraine’s record goalscorer was definitely the man of the match only 62 minutes in.

The 15 minutes after the goal is still end to end but the tempo slowed considerably with both teams trying to recover some energy after an intense quarter of an hour of football.

Around the 80th minute mark Sweden began to come more and more into the game, Ibrahimovic strikes a thunderous strike towards goal and the only reason the goalkeeper saved it was because he wouldn’t have been able to move out of the way if he tried! Sweden look the more likely to score but Ukraine having the odd free-kick and the odd chance.

Ukraine lived a very charmed life in the dying moments of the game, twice Sweden had golden chances to equalise but failed to take them. Utter jubilation in the Ukraine as the final whistle goes, some great goals and I would say the best game of the competition so far.

The referee was Cuneyt Cakir of Turkey and he had a good game, made all the correct decisions.