Ukraine Under20 team...Champions of the world
Against all odds, Ukraine are FIFA Under-20 World Cup champions for the first time after coming from behind to defeat Korea Republic 3-1 in the 2019 final at Lodz Stadium in Poland.
It was a victory that got many book-makers needing help as most pundits never reckoned with the European team right from the kick-off of the competition.
Korea Republic struck quickly through Lee Kangin, who converted his penalty kick in the fifth minute.
This was after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check determined that captain Hwang Taehyeon was tripped inside the right edge of the box.
The Ukrainians poured on pressure as the first half progressed, however, culminating in Vladyslav Supriaha’s 34th-minute equaliser.
Korea Republic could not fully clear Serhii Buletsa’s free-kick delivery into the penalty kick area, and Supriaha pounced on the loose ball to poke home from eight yards.
Supriaha completed his brace eight minutes into the second half.
Yukhym Konoplia’s deflected through ball skipped into the Ukrainian forward’s path and he beat the goalkeeper one-on-one to put his side on top.
A marauding run from Heorhii Tsitaishvili in the 89th minute sealed the match and the championship for the Ukrainians.
The midfielder surged forward from his own half and cracked a shot into the corner of the net.
From never progressing past the Round of 16 to lifting the trophy, Ukraine’s unprecedented run to the title will be an enduring memory of Poland 2019.
