Tribble Agency
Tribble Agency


Slovenia takes on Ukraine in UEFA Euro 2016 play-offs

Ukraine earned a two-goal advantage over Slovenia in the first-leg of the European Championship qualifiers courtesy of strikes from Andriy Yarmolenko and Yevhen Seleznyov.

I made a decision to take off Josip Ilicic in the first leg because we have another game, so we must be careful with our best players.

Ukraine, who have lost all five of their previous qualifying play-offs for major tournaments, dominated early but Samir Handanovic proved solid in the Slovenian goal in the opening 20 minutes.

Yarmolenko notched his fifth goal of the campaign on 23 minutes to give the hosts a deserved lead at the break before playing a part in Yevhen Seleznyov's second from close range after the restart.

Mykhaylo Fomenko wants his Ukraine side to quickly turn their focus to Tuesday's Euro 2016 return playoff leg with Slovenia after claiming a two-goal advantage in Lviv.

The teams haven't played since November 1999 when they played twice, Slovenia won the first game 2 - 1 and the second ended in a 1 - 1 draw.

"We could have scored a third goal and I'm glad Slovenia did not capitalise on our mistakes", he said after his side stretched their unbeaten run at the Lviv Arena to 14 matches. His global goalscoring record is incredible - he is his country's second-highest scorer with 21 goals in 54 games and his proficiency in front of goal will be crucial if - and when - Ukraine qualify for the finals.

"I think my players understand what they have to do and I should not need to find any additional words [of motivation] for the second leg".

Slovenia make the trip to the Ukraine for their first head to head meetign in sixteen years. "We had a chat when we assembled and we must show that evil can not be allowed to win, that football is important on days such as this". "The result is hard for us but there is nothing impossible in football".

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