U-21: CROATIA - UKRAINE 1:1 (0:0)
EURO U-21 qualifiers, Group 5.
Kranjčevićeva Stadium, Zagreb.
Referee: A. Ekberg (Sweden)
Goalscorers: 1:0 - Rebić (56'), 1:1 - Malinovskiy (62')
Yellow cards: Malyshev (9'), Brozović (50'), Memeshev (82'), Babenko (86')
Croatia: Zelenika, Vrsaljko, Jedvaj, Šimunović, Bubnjić, Brozović, Kovačić, Pašalić (od 74' Mišić), Pjaca, Rebić, Perica (od 85' Kolar). Izbornik: N. Gračan
Ukraine: Koval, Ordets, Bratkov, Bolbat (od 53' Memeshev), Kalitvintsev, Babenko, Nasonov, Malinovskiy (od 71' Yusov), Malyshev, Kostevych (od 60' Nepliakh), Kulach. Izbornik. S. Kovalets
In its penultimate match in Group 5, Croatia U-21 hosted Ukraine, with the ticket sales profit to be donated to the Slavonia region, devastated by floods.
The best chance in the first half was missed by striker Perica, hitting the crossbar in the 38th minute.
foto: Drago Sopta/HNS
An excellent Croatia attack was rewarded in the 56th minute. Pjaca found some space with a neat move, Vrsaljko sent a low cross from the right, and Rebić found the net with a powerful strike.
However, Ukraine equalizer came only six minutes later. Malinovskiy was left unattended to beat Zelenika from close range to make it 1:1.
Soon, Rebić hit the post and in the dying minutes Vrsaljko could not find the way past Koval.
Croatia will play the away match at Latvia in September, with the win to seal the top spot and play-off berth.
EURO U-21 qualifiers, Group 5:
1. Croatia 16 (7)
2. Switzerland 12 (6)
3. Ukraine 7 (4)
4. Latvia 6 (5)
5. Liechtenstein 0 (6)
