Wales book play-off final clash with Poland, Ukraine in dramatic fightback
CARDIFF, United Kingdom: Wales will face Poland for a place at Euro 2024 after powering to a 4-1 win against Finland in the play-off semi-finals on Thursday while war-torn Ukraine stayed on course for the finals with a last-gasp comeback.
Rob Page’s side stormed into a two-goal lead thanks to strikes from David Brooks and Neco Williams in Cardiff.
Teemu Pukki reduced the deficit just before the break, but Brennan Johnson and Daniel James netted in the second half to keep Wales’ Euro dreams alive.
Bidding to reach a third consecutive European Championship, Wales will take on Poland in the play-off final at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday.
Poland were 5-1 winners against Estonia in their semifinal on Thursday.
“We got off to the best possible start. Everyone put in a performance. It could have been five or six in the end, but the message is that this is half-time,” Page said.
“We’re going to enjoy the win and take this into the final. We’ve now got a massive effort to go. We can’t wait. Roll on Tuesday.”
Finland boss Markku Kanerva added: “I’m disappointed. We had disastrous starts to both halves. We didn’t reach the level I wanted.”
Ukraine’s hopes of making it to successive Euros were kept alive after a dramatic and very late come-from-behind 2-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica.
Defender Amar Dedic unleashed a powerful drive just before the hour mark with the ball deflected into his own goal by the unfortunate Mykola Matviyenko to give Bosnia the lead.
However, two goals inside four minutes in the dying exchanges gave Ukraine victory.
In the 85th minute substitute Roman Yaremchuk scored from a fine cross by Yukhym Konoplia to level the tie.
Artem Dovbyk headed Ukraine’s winner with two minutes left.
“Our players wanted to win and attacked as much as they could,” said Ukraine coach Serhiy Rebrov.
Ukraine will now face Iceland on Tuesday with the winner to claim a spot in this summer’s finals in Germany.