Scotland 1-3 Ukraine: Main Talking Points As Ukraine End The Tartan Army’s World Cup Dreams At Hampden

In what was an emotionally-charged night at Hampden on Wednesday, Ukraine managed to move one step away from booking their spot at this year’s World Cup finals.

With all eyes from across Europe falling on a lively Hampden, Oleksandr Petrakov’s men put in what was a hugely impressive display on foreign soil as they stormed their way to a 3-1 victory against Scotland.

Managing to briefly clear their heads following the ongoing conflict inside their country, goals from Andriy Yarmolenko, Roman Yaremchuk and Artem Dovbyk completed a famous night in Glasgow for the Yellows.

However, while there might have been tears of happiness for Ukraine on Wednesday, Scotland will feel that they missed out on a golden chance to extend on their own World Cup qualifying dreams.

With Ukraine booking a one-off showdown against Wales for this weekend, we have taken a look at the main talking points after a turbulent night in Glasgow.

Ukraine’s qualifying fairytale continues

After dealing with the ongoing heartbreak within their own country, there were some question marks over how the Ukraine squad would deal with what was always going to be an emotionally-charged night at Hampden.

However, only managing to muster a trio of friendly contests against the likes of Borussia Mönchengladbach, Empoli and Rijeka ahead of Wednesday’s contest, Petrakov’s side showed no signs of ring rust.

Putting in what will long be remembered as one of their most iconic nights here, there is no doubt that the Yellows have found quite the boost since appointing their long-time youth team coach back in August.

While Ukraine might have failed to book an automatic ticket out to Qatar for later in the year, they did storm their way through each of their 10 qualifying matchups unbeaten, and it appears that the mood in their camp is at a real high.

Flying out the blocks here and putting in a dominant display on the grandest of stages in Glasgow, Ukraine would have also felt the unrivaled support that they have received from across Europe.

With now ex-West Ham forward Yarmolenko moving within just four goals of becoming his nation’s all-time leading goalscorer after a wonderful first-half chip, Benfica marksman Yaremchuk and 24-year-old Dovbyk wrapped up a clinical display.

Scotland crumble on their big night

Last seen back in March when picking up a pair of impressive stalemates against World Cup regulars Austria and Poland, Scotland certainly headed into Wednesday’s showdown riding a real wave.

Tipped as a standout pick to extend on their own qualifying adventure here, Steve Clarke was instead left bitterly disappointed by a flat display on home soil.

Despite being backed by a vocal home support at a sold-out Hampden, the one-time Chelsea coach saw his side come up second best across the pitch.

Now failing to book their ticket for a World Cup finals since 1998, the Tartan Army will undoubtedly take some time to recover as they missed out on what many were billing as a golden chance.

While Celtic’s Callum McGregor might have set up a grandstand finish as his scuffed effort found a way past a nervous Heorhiy Bushchan, Scotland failed to complete another iconic comeback in Glasgow.

Amidst heartbreaking scenes following the final whistle, there is no doubt that Wednesday’s home support will be looking back on what could have been.

With Aston Villa’s John McGinn somehow guiding his header wide from just inside the six-yard box late in the second-half, it appears it is back to the drawing board for Clarke.

Wales await

While most neutrals from across Britain might have been hoping for a Wales vs Scotland showdown for later in the week, it was Ukraine who managed to upset the party.

Now knowing that they’re just 90 minutes away from reaching their first World Cup finals since 2006 – where they reached the quarter-finals in Germany – Petrakov’s side will make the trip to Cardiff on Sunday evening.

Now holding a talented young squad that includes Wednesday’s Man of the Match Oleksandr Zinchenko, they would have also noted Wales’ Nations League slip-up against Poland earlier in the day.

Opening this year’s campaign with a trip out to Poland and eventually throwing away the lead as they were hit with a 2-1 loss in Wroclaw, the Yellows should be smelling a chance in a few day’s time.

Picking up a 1-0 victory when they last faced off against Wales in a friendly showdown six years ago, Ukraine, and many across Europe, will be hoping that they can complete their qualifying fairytale.

Match Facts:

Scotland: Gordon, McTominay, Hanley, Cooper, Hickey, Gilmour, McGregor, Robertson, McGinn, Adams, Dykes

Subs: Hendry, Armstrong

Ukraine: Bushchan, Karavaev, Zabarnyi, Matvienko, Mykolenko, Stepanenko, Yarmolenko ,Malinovskyi, Zinchenko,Tsygankov,Yaremchuk

Subs: Dovbyk, Mudryk, Shaparenko, Zubkov, Sydorchuk

Goals: Scotland: McGregor (79′) – Ukraine: Yarmolenko (33′), Yaremchuk (49′), Dovbyk (90’+5)

Yellow Cards: Scotland: Dykes, McGinn – Ukraine: Malinovskyi, Shaparenko, Yaremchuk

Red Cards: N/A

Referee: Danny Makkelie