James McAtee’s heroic performance led England to a thrilling 2-1 victory against Ukraine in their European U21 Championship qualifier, held at the Vitality Stadium.
Ukraine struck first in the 70th minute with Taras Mykhavko capitalizing on a corner kick, but McAtee’s remarkable free-kick and a last-gasp winner turned the tide for the Young Lions under the guidance of coach Ben Futcher.
This victory allowed England to narrow the gap to just two points behind Ukraine, who remain at the top of Group F. The match was not without its challenges for England, as they failed to take an early chance when Liam Delap pressured Ukraine’s goalkeeper, but McAtee’s powerful shot was thwarted.
Throughout the first half, England’s attempts to break free of Ukraine’s pressing strategy were consistently met with frustration. Despite this, Lewis Hall made a notable run down the left flank, although Omari Hutchinson’s effort went over the crossbar. Delap nearly scored as well, hitting the crossbar in an impressive display.
The hosts made improvements in the second half but continued to struggle with their finishing. Their lack of precision ultimately led to Ukraine’s opening goal, as goalkeeper James Trafford misjudged a corner kick, allowing Mykhavko to score.
In a dramatic turnaround, McAtee’s free-kick rebounded off the bar and he capitalized on the loose ball to secure a vital win for England, reinforcing their ambitions in the championship.
