UKRAINE 2-0 SLOVENIA: YARMOLENKO INSPIRES FIRST-LEG VICTORY

The Dynamo Kyiv winger scored a superb opening
goal before playing a part in the build-up to the
second to give his country a big advantage in their
European Championship play-off
Andriy Yarmolenko inspired Ukraine to a 2-0 victory
in the first leg of their play-off against Slovenia to
leave his country on the verge of qualification for
Euro 2016.
Yarmolenko notched his fifth goal of the campaign
on 23 minutes to give the hosts a deserved lead at
the break before playing a part in Yevhen
Seleznyov's second from close range after the
restart.
Ukraine controlled large parts of the clash in Lviv
and could have won by a greater margin had Samir
Handanovic not been in fine form for the visitors,
with Seleznyov almost making it three when he
struck the post 20 minutes from time.
Inter goalkeeper Handanovic denied Serhiy Rybalka
in the first half and was on hand to push Denys
Garmash's header away later on.
Slovenia struggled to create many chances and
when they did their finishing lacked quality, with
Josip Ilicic guilty of wasting their best opening.
Victory gives Ukraine a vital cushion heading into
the second leg on Tuesday and leaves Slovenia
needing a significant turnaround if they are to make
it to the finals in France next year.
After an impeccably observed minute of silence in
honour of the victims of the terror attacks in Paris
on Friday, it was the hosts who started the brighter.
Roared on by the vociferous home support,
Vyacheslav Shevchuk was given room to cross from
the left after two minutes, but the stretching
Seleznyov was unable to convert at the back post.
Chances were few and far between until midway
through the first half when Slovenia twice failed to
deal with deliveries from the left.
A poor punch from Handanovic landed at the feet
of Yarmolenko, who dropped a shoulder to evade
three defenders before firing the ball into the
bottom-left corner.
Ilicic should have brought Slovenia level four
minutes later following a superbly weighted knock-
down by Milivoje Novakovic, but he blazed over
when unmarked.
Looking to take advantage of their good fortune,
Ukraine pushed for a second before the break and
twice threatened through Rybalka, with the
midfielder seeing one long-range effort saved by
Handanovic before another was deflected narrowly
wide.
Ukraine's second arrived early in the second half
when Yarmolenko combined with Artem Fedetskiy
on the right to allow Seleznyov to slide in and
convert at the back post.
There was little Handanovic could do about that,
but he ensured Slovenia did not fall further behind
just before the hour mark with a reflex save to stop
Garmash's diving header.
Seleznyov was able to beat the Slovenia goalkeeper
again before the final whistle but his low effort
thudded against the post and Ukraine were left to
settle for a two-goal advantage ahead of Tuesday's
return leg.