England Under-21s suffered a 3-2 injury-time defeat to Ukraine in their Euro 2025 qualifier in Slovakia after recovering from 2-0 down.
Lee Carsley’s side had recorded a 9-1 win over Serbia at the City Ground last week to top Group F. However, Ukraine had also gained maximum points from the first two qualifying matches and proved a much tougher test.
The Young Lions trailed 2-0 at half-time before Noni Madueke and Charlie Cresswell appeared to have rescued a draw, only for Ilya Kvasnytsya to hit a late winner.
England, captained by Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott with Chelsea winger Cole Palmer injured, created their first clear opening in the 24th minute.
A neat substitution saw Jamie Bynoe-Gittens play to the left of the penalty area and his cutback was put across goal by James McAtee. It turned out to be a costly miss, as Ukraine took the lead just after the half hour.
England were caught in possession trying to play out from the back and Ukraine quickly pushed forward. A ball on the far right fell through to Nazar Voloshyn at the far post and he fired past James Trafford.
As half-time approached, England found space again on the edge of Ukraine when Madueke made a clever turn, but the Chelsea forward dragged a low shot wide.
Ukraine then doubled their lead with a brilliant free kick from Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Oleg Ocheretko.
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite was penalized for what appeared to be minimal contact with Maksim Bragaru on the right. There didn’t seem to be a good angle for a direct shot, but Ocheretko fired the ball over Trafford and into the far corner.
After a quiet start to the second half, Carsley looked to revive his side with a three-way substitution before the hour mark as Jaden Philogene-Bidace, Liam Delap and Juventus striker Samuel Iling-Junior all came on.
England, who suffered only a third qualifying defeat in twelve years, reduced the deficit in the 67th minute.
Hull striker Delap was pushed off the ball on the edge of Ukraine, but the ball fell to Madueke who sent a neat finish back into the far corner.
Iling-Junior then saw his cross fly through the six-yard box before being touched from behind for a corner.
England found an equalizer with just a minute to go when Leeds defender Cresswell headed into the far post after Elliott’s deep cross fell through the Ukraine penalty area.
However, Ukraine grabbed the win in stoppage time when substitute Kvasnytsya hit a low shot into the far corner after a quick break – before Delap saw his header on target saved by Ruslan Neshcheret in what was the final action of the match.
What’s next?
England U21s are back in action in November with two Euro 2025 qualifiers scheduled Serbia U21 on November 18, followed by a home game against Northern Ireland U21 on November 21.