Ukraine's soccer team pulls out incredible victory over Morocco at Olympics

Olympics 2024, Group B, 2nd round

Ukraine - Morocco - 2: 1

Goals: Kryskiv, 22, Krasnopir, 90+9 - Rahimi, 64 (penalty)

Removals: Saliuk, 63 (U, direct red card)

The teams started the match on opposite courses. The blue and yellows were the first to miss a chance to score - Khlan's shot into the near corner from outside the penalty area was parried by the keeper. And the next sharp moment Ruslan Rotan's wards turned into a goal when Kryskiv touched down Braharu's shot.

Subsequently, the national team of Ukraine could build on its success. Khlan hit the crossbar with his head, but Munir pulled the ball out. Instead, before the break, Batahov sent the ball above the goal with his head after Kryskiv's cross. At the end of the half, the Moroccans seized the initiative.

Atlas Lions continued to put pressure at the start of the second half. There were moments: Hakimi headed over the goal, El Khannouss missed the frame from 20 meters, and Richardson's diagonal shot was deflected by Fesiun. But in the 60th minute, the Blue and Yellows' defense missed Rahimi's breakthrough, and Saliuk brought him down in the penalty area.

The referee awarded an eleven-meter penalty and gave the defender a yellow card. However, after watching the replay, he changed his decision and sent off the Ukrainian. Rahimi confidently converted the penalty, and the Ukrainian Olympic team remained in the minority for more than half an hour.

The Moroccans continued to put pressure on Fesiun's possession. Instead, the blue and yellows relied on quick counterattacks. However, Rotan's team actually created few chances. Instead, the opponent simply terrorized the defense of the Ukrainian national team. However, Fesiun and company withstood all the dangerous attacks.

And under the curtain of the time added by the referee, the Blue and Yellows managed an exemplary attack. Rubchynskyi broke through the central zone, threw it to Fedor's right, he shot along the goalkeeper's line, and Krasnopir touched the ball into the empty net - 2:1 in the end!

Thus, the Ukrainian national team won its first-ever victory at the Olympic Games. At the same time, the Blue and Yellows increased their chances of reaching the playoffs. Before the final round of the group stage, all four teams have 3 points each. In the decisive match, Rotan's team will meet Argentina (July 30).

The day before, Ukraine took part in the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.