Ukraine made it to the last 16 despite taking only three points in the group stage, partly qualifying as Sweden pushed Poland to top Group E ahead of Spain.
As it happened: Sweden vs Ukraine
But Andrey Shevchenko’s side was determined to show that they deserved their place in the knockout stage as Oleksandr Zinchenko fired them into the early lead.
Emil Forsberg’s deflected strike brought the Swede level before half-time and the RB Leipzig midfielder hit the woodwork twice in the second half.
Result Zinchenko and Dovbek net as Ukraine book their place in the quarterfinals Sweden crash out of the round of 16 stage#Euro2020
— UEFA Euro 2020 (@Euro2020) 1625003036000
However, a red card nine minutes into extra time for Marcus Danielsson hung the Swede on penalties until Dovbík hit Zinchenko’s invited cross to spark wild scenes of celebration among the small band of Ukrainian fans. Didn’t lie Hampden Park.
Shevchenko stated that before the game his team had achieved their goal through the group.
But the former AC Milan striker got the desired response with a quick start after a disappointing 1-0 loss to Austria in his final group game.
Ukraine’s hero Oleksandr Zinchenko takes the prize after a goal and an assist in the round of 16! @Heineken |… https://t.co/YGgRi2dFds
— UEFA Euro 2020 (@Euro2020) 162503380000
Sweden’s Robin Olsen was forced to make the first save to deny Roman Yaremchuk after being bullied by the influential Andrey Yarmolenko.
The West Ham United winger has been his country’s driving force throughout the tournament, scoring two of his six goals or assists in all.
Yarmolenko’s teasing cross with the outside of his left foot fell for Zinchenko on 27 minutes and the Manchester City man drilled into a low shot that had too much power for Olsen.
This was the first time Sweden had pulled out of all tournaments, but Jan Andersen’s men responded well to questions that were asked whether they could pursue the game following their defensive discipline in the group stage.
Forsberg has been just as impressive for Sweden as Yarmolenko for Ukraine and equalized two minutes before the break with his fourth goal of the tournament.
Prospects came and went for both sides from end to end in what turned out to be an entertaining second half.
Yarmolenko broke Serhi Sidorchuk against the post, but Sweden posed a bigger threat.
Forsberg hit the woodwork twice, swinging a shot into the base of the post before a more powerful effort from the side of the box was cannoned back from the bar.
In the middle of time, Georgie Bushchen made a surprise save to tip over a dipping shot from Dejan Kulusevski.
Ukraine survived to move the game to extra time and were given a golden chance of reaching the last eight of a major tournament for the second time as an independent nation when Sweden were reduced to 10 men.
Danielson won the ball, but followed up with a dangerous challenge on Artem Besedin that left the Dynamo Kiev striker injured.
Yarmolenko also had to convert in the middle of extra time, what worries Shevchenko would be if Ukraine had any chance to surprise England Rome.
But in his place Dovbeek was a hero as he picked the right time to score his first international goal.
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