Georgiy Sudakov’s inaugural international goal played a pivotal role in extending Ukraine’s undefeated streak at home to nine matches, securing a 2-0 victory against North Macedonia in the UEFA European Championships qualification (UECQ).
The match unfolded as a tense contest between Ukraine and North Macedonia, both tied at seven points and vying for Group C’s second spot with Italy. The initial stages were marked by caution, with neither side eager to concede an early goal. The predominantly Ukrainian crowd in Prague, the temporary venue due to the ongoing conflict in their homeland, spurred on the Euro 2020 quarter-finalists. Despite North Macedonia’s resistance, Ukraine dominated possession and patiently crafted their opportunities.
The breakthrough came when Mykhailo Mudryk breached the box, forcing a one-on-one save from North Macedonia’s Stole Dimitrievski. However, the opening goal was a gift, as Jani Atanasov’s error on the edge of the area allowed Sudakov to capitalize, his deflected shot eluding Dimitrievski.
Ukraine continued their control, showcasing attacking prowess before halftime, with Bojan Miovski and Stefan Aškovski testing Anatoliy Trubin. The second half witnessed an energetic start from both sides, with North Macedonia’s Darko Churlinov posing an immediate threat, though his shot was saved by Trubin. Ukraine nearly capitalized on the counterattack, but Mudryk’s attempt was straight at Dimitrievski.
A header by Mykola Matviyenko hit the crossbar, and late efforts from Mudryk and Sudakov were narrowly off target. Oleksandr Karavaiev sealed the victory with a spectacular lob from 35 yards. The win served as redemption for Ukraine after a 2-1 loss to Italy in their previous outing, placing them in the group’s automatic qualification positions. Conversely, North Macedonia’s offensive struggles persist, as missed opportunities mean they have failed to score in four of their last five away matches under Blagoja Milevski’s management.