Ukraine 1-1 England: Kyle Walker scores first Three Lions goal to cancel out Oleksandr Zinchenko strike
Ukraine and England played out a cagey draw in a Euro 24 qualifying Group C encounter in Wroclaw.
The home side, playing in Poland due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, took the lead after 26 minutes when Oleksandr Zinchenko coolly finished a sweeping move.
Just before half-time, Kyle Walker equalised with his first England goal, after a superb pass from Harry Kane.
The second half saw few chances, with Bukayo Saka going closest as his drive was turned onto the bar and away by Heorhiy Buschan.
Ukraine will now face Italy in the San Siro on Tuesday, while England travel to Scotland for a friendly.
TALKING POINT - Is Group C still in the balance?
Halfway through their campaign to qualify for Euro 2024, England were coasting; four wins from four, and with Germany in sight before they’d gone on their summer holidays.
They’re still in the box seat, with Ukraine and Italy waiting to play each other twice, but this draw stirs it up a little in the rest of the group. Ukraine are unbeaten in four under new manager Serhiy Rebrov, and have snagged a handy point ahead of their trip to the San Siro on Tuesday.
With two going through automatically and another likely heading for the play-offs, there are fair odds on all three of the group heavyweights making it. Both Ukraine and Italy will be wary of the latter route though, having both missed out on the 2022 World Cup by falling at that hurdle.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Kyle Walker (England)
In a match with few standout performers, Walker impressed the most by operating to great effect in both defence and attack. He locked up the dangerous Mykhailo Mudryk all evening and topped that performance with a smartly taken goal, his first for England.
PLAYER RATINGS
Ukraine: Bushchan 7; Konoplya 7, Zabarnyi 6, Matvienko 6, Mykolenko 6; Stepanenko 6, Zinchenko 7; Tysgankov 7, Sudakov 5, Mudryk 6; Yaremchuk 6
SUBS: Kryvtsov 7, Dovbyk 6, Sydorchuk 6, Buyalskyi 6, Nazarnya 6
England: Pickford 6; Walker 8, Chilwell 6, Guehi 7, Maguire 6; Rice 6, Henderson 6, Bellingham 7; Saka 7, Kane 6, Maddison 6
SUBS: Foden 6, Rashford 6, Gallagher 6
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
26’ GOAL! UKRAINE 1 (ZINCHENKO 26) ENGLAND 0 Ukraine lead, and it's a beauty! It's down the right again, as they break on England in transition. Tsygankov flies forward, cutting in, before laying off to the overlapping Konoplya. From there, Konoplya cuts back first time to the penalty spot where Zinchenko arrives to side foot the ball low past Pickford. That's a cracking goal.
41’ GOAL! UKRAINE 1 ENGLAND 1 (WALKER 41) From nothing, England are level! Kane drops deep - very deep; from near the centre circle he pings a wonderful, diagonal pass inside Mykolenko to Walker, who kills it with a perfect touch into the area. He's one on one with Buschan, and calmly tucks it inside the near post for his first England goal!
59’ OFF THE BAR! England win the ball and tee up a shot quickly now; Kane finds Saka on the right edge of the area. Saka cuts inside and lets fly off his left, only for the ball to rocket off the bar and away.
85’ SCRAMBLE! Rashford booms the free kick at goal, and Buschan wafts a hand to get it away. Rice lobs it back in and the ball squirts loose to the back post; Maguire and Buschan both go full-blooded for it, and Buschan blocks it bravely. For his challenge, a perplexed Maguire is booked.
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