The Ukrainian football players imposed a fight on their opponents, but the Italian class had its say.
On Monday, March 27, in Reggio di Calabria, the second friendly match of the Ukrainian U-21 national team took place in preparation for the 2023 Summer Youth European Championship.
After victory over Denmark (3:2) Ruslan Rotan’s wards met with peers from Italy.
Unfortunately, the “yellow-blue” failed to get the second victory in a row, losing to the opponent. In the 19th minute, the Italians filed a free-kick from the flank, Matteo Lovato struck a header, which Ruslan Neshcheret almost managed. But the ball from his hands flew into the net.

Matteo Lovato / Source: Getty Images
In the middle of the second half, the Ukrainian youth team managed to recoup with the efforts of Oleksiy Kashchuk. After the ball ricocheted off the defender and hit him, the Sabah striker delivered a scoring shot on goal.
However, almost immediately, Italy again took the lead. In the course of one attack, the Italian players delivered three blows: the first was repulsed by Neshcheret, the second was taken by the crossbar, but Lorenzo Colombo’s shot hit exactly in the corner.
And after another 12 minutes, the same Colombo scored a double, closing the canopy from the flank with his head, and set the final score of the match.

Lorenzo Colombo / Source: Getty Images
Recall that the Ukrainian U-21 team will take part in the European Youth Championship 2023, which will be held in Georgia and Romania from June 21 to July 8. Ruslan Rotan’s team got into the same group with Romania, Spain and Croatia.
Statistics of the friendly match Italy U-21 – Ukraine U-21
Italy U-21 – Ukraine U-21 3:1
Naked: Lovato, 19, Colombo, 70, 80 – Kashchuk.
Italy U-21: Turati – Ocoli, Lovato, Pirola – Bellanova, Bove, Ricci, Fagioli, Udogi – Cancellieri, Colombo.
Ukraine U-21: Nescheret – Lyakh, Taloverov, Batagov, Vyvcharenko – Mykhaylenko, Brazhko, Kashchuk, Kryskiv, Vyunnyk – Sykan.
Warning: Batagov, Brazhko.