Own goal ends Ukraine’s Cup bid
Ukraine’s players wept in the rain while applauding their dejected supporters after missing out on qualifying for the World Cup by losing 1-0 to host Wales in Europe’s last playoff for the FIFA soccer showpiece on Sunday.
The agonizing moment in a tight game came in the 34th minute when Andriy Yarmolenko inadvertently headed the ball into his own net while trying to clear Wales captain Gareth Bale’s free kick.
While Wales heads to its first World Cup in 64 years — opening against the United States in November — this was a game too far for Ukraine’s emotionally charged mission to qualify for Qatar while remaining under invasion by Russia.
“We did everything that we could,” coach Oleksandr Petrakov said through a translator, “but I really want the people of Ukraine to remember our team’s efforts.”
Petrakov’s priority, once the World Cup dream had been extinguished, was ensuring the suffering at home is not forgotten by the world.
“We have war raging all over the country,” Petrakov said. “We have children and women dying on a daily basis. Our infrastructure is being ruined by Russian barbarians. The Russians want to hurt us, but the Ukrainians are resisting and defending their land. We just want your support.”
Back home, on the 102nd day of the war, Ukrainians took respite from the pain and suffering by watching the game, played in Cardiff, in bars, including in Kyiv.
But the war and missile strikes earlier Sunday in Ukraine’s capital put an obvious dampener on any party mood for the match.
Ultimately it was Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey who proved an impenetrable barrier. No other team had as many as Ukraine’s nine shots on target in European qualifying without managing to score.
“He made some incredible saves,” Ukraine midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko said. “We didn’t deserve to lose today; it was so tight. We need to carry on, work a lot.”
Mexico’s tie marred by anti-gay chant
A scoreless tie between Mexico and Ecuador was paused in the 81st minute because of a homophobic chant from some of the announced crowd of 61,104 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
The pause, per FIFA’s protocol, occurred after Ecuador goalie Alexander Dominguez attempted a kick. Players on both sides gathered in the center circle before the friendly resumed.
Soldier Field reportedly posted warnings to fans about the behavior outside the venue.