Ukraine’s under-20 national soccer team on June 15 in Poland defeated South Korea, 3–1, in the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup finals, winning the first-ever gold in this tournament for Ukraine.
The FIFA U20 World Cup is held every two years and is considered the most prestigious youth soccer tournament in the world. This year’s World Cup took place in Poland, between May 23 and June 15. Ukraine has been steady from the start to finish on their path to historic gold.
Ukraine won its group by beating coevals from the United States and Qatar, while finishing their game against Nigeria in a tie.
In the playoffs, Ukraine crushed Panama 4–1 in the Round of 16, later beating Columbia 1–0 in a close game. The Ukrainian team defeated Italy in the semi-finals: it won 1–0, while playing the last minutes of the match without a player, who was sent off at the 78th minute. Besides, Italy was denied a goal on their last possession after the official video review.
In the finals, South Korea was the first team to score a goal on the fifth minute. But by the end of the first half, Ukrainian striker Vladyslav Supriaha scored an equalizer, 1–1. Supriaha scored again on the 53rd minute and Heorhiy Tsitaishvili put the last goal in on the 90th, making the score 3–1.
Meanwhile, the bronze medal match ended with Ecuador defeating Italy 1–0 in extra-time on June 14 in Gdyna, Poland.
Prior to winning the tournament in 2019, Ukraine’s top achievement was just reaching the Round of 16 in 2001, 2005, and 2015.
