Ukraine v Serbia
Ukraine (4) v Serbia (3)
The start of the game was a messy spectacle, with the weather winning the battle between man and nature, stopping the teams from scoring. Serbia tried their hardest to break the deadlock with 4 very good shots which were all saved or narrowly missed. After three and a half minutes the rain was coming down so heavily that the referee decided to stop the game in the interest of safety. After a delay of roughly 4 minutes play resumed in wetter conditions.
Straight after the restart Serbia scored 2 excellent goals, after which Ukraine pegged one back. After half time Serbia soon restored their 2 goal lead however with another well taken strike.
Ukraine raised their game for the second half with some sublime passing, eventually pegging another one back to make it 3-2 to Serbia. The slippery conditions meant that the second half was a slower affair than the first, with more calculated passing from both teams. Both teams had efficient defenders and goalkeepers, creating a deadlock at the 3-2 scoreline until Ukraine pulled one back to bring it to 3-3 through number 7.
Ukraine resumed their spirited fightback with a great goal from number 3. The close play made for a tense atmosphere around pitch 1, with neither team willing to settle for the current scoreline. Several reaction saves from the Ukraine keeper sealed the win for them. Final score 4-3 to Ukraine.
Matthew Simpson and Jane Stoffregen