Photo:Getty images
The Ukrainian national team drew with the Belgian national team in the first match of the UEFA Nations League play-offs. The match took place on 20 March 2025 on a neutral field at the Enrique Roca de Murcia Stadium in Spain, Championreports.
Composition of teams
Ukraine: Lunin – Konoplya, Zabarnyi, Matvienko, Mykolenko – Kalyuzhnyi – Tsygankov, Zinchenko, Shaparenko, Sudakov – Yaremchuk.
Belgium: Courtois – Meunier, De Keijper, Mehele, de Winter – Debast, Thielemans, de Bruyne, de Ketelare – Trossar, Lukaku.
Timeline of the match
90+3′
The final whistle blows! Ukraine’s national team draws 1-1 in the first play-off match against Belgium. Everything will be decided in the return leg!
85′
Vanatta fired dangerously from outside the box, but Courtois saves Belgium!
80′
Lukaku tried to put the Belgians ahead, but Zabarny interrupted the attack in a rolling attack.
75′
Tsygankov fired from the flank, but the defenders knocked the ball out for a corner.
70′
Hutsulyak is in the spotlight again! This time his mid-range shot is blocked by De Keiper.
66′
GOAL! Ukraine equalises! Hutsulyak robbed the defender on the flank, entered the penalty area and shot powerfully past Courtois – 1-1!
64′
Yarmolyuk immediately gets involved in the game, taking the ball away from de Ketelare in the centre of the pitch.
62′
A triple substitution from Serhii Rebrov: Sych, Shaparenko and Yaremchuk leave the pitch, Yarmolyuk, Vanat and Hutsulyak come on.
61′
Tielemans fired a long-range shot – Lunin calmly picked up the ball.
60′
Zinchenko hit the post from the penalty spot! Courtois didn’t even react – the ball flew inches from the goal!
58′
De Winter fouls Yaremchuk, the referee gives a dangerous foul.
56′
Sych is injured after a collision with de Bruyne. Medics are helping the Ukrainian defender.
55′
De Bruyne shoots from outside the penalty area – Lunin is on the spot, confidently parries!
52′
Zabarnyi took a chance on the ball, almost losing it, but Matvienko insured his partner.
47′
The Ukrainians control the ball at the start of the second half, but it hasn’t come to any sharp moments yet.
46′
The second half has begun!
45+1′
The first half is over. Ukraine are 0-1 down after a goal from Lukaku.
40′
Goal!!! Belgium opens the scoring! De Bruyne made a perfect pass, and Lukaku headed the ball into the far corner – 0: 1.
37′
De Bruyne’s shot at the near post, but the Ukrainian defence held on.
31′
Lunin saves! De Bruyne fired at Lukaku, but the Blue and Yellows goalkeeper intercepts the ball with his foot.
25′
The first substitution for the Ukrainians: the injured Konoplyu is replaced by Sych.
17′
Lukaku ran out to meet Lunin, took out the defender, but the goalkeeper came out in time to take the ball!
10′
De Bruyne shoots from distance – the ball flies well over the goal.
6′
Yaremchuk takes out the defender and shoots – Courtois saves Belgium!
3′
Sudakov struck the first shot of the match – Courtois easily dealt with a long shot.
1′
The match has begun!
Pre-match information
The teams took to the pitch to the anthems of Ukraine and Belgium. The text broadcast of the match started at 21:30 Kyiv time. The winner of this two-match clash will be eligible to play in League A of the next Nations League draw, while the losing team will be relegated to League B.
It should be noted that following the results of the group stage of the 2024/2025 Nations League, Belgium finished third in Group 3 of League A, behind France and Italy, but ahead of Israel on goal difference. Ukraine finished second in Group 1 of League B, behind the Czech Republic, ahead of Georgia and behind Albania, which was relegated to League C.
Head coach Serhii Rebrov announced the team’s squad in advance, calling up the strongest players for the decisive clash with the Red Devils.
Next up is the return leg, which will determine the teams’ fate in the Nations League!
