Match ends, Ukraine 2, Slovenia 0.
UkraineUkraine2SloveniaSlovenia0
Ukraine built a comfortable lead over Slovenia in their Euro 2016 play-off as Andriy Yarmolenko and Yevhen Seleznyov scored in a 2-0 win in Lviv.
The Euro 2012 co-hosts took the lead when Yarmolenko seized on goalkeeper Samir Handanovic's unconvincing punch.
Seleznyov slid in to convert the overlapping Artem Fedetskiy's cross after the break.
Josip Ilicic wasted a fine chance for Slovenia, but his side were fortunate not to fall further behind in the tie.
Seleznyov side-footed a tame shot against the post after Denys Garmash had directed a powerful header straight at Handanovic under little pressure.
| Euro 2016 play-off dates |
|---|
| Norway v Hungary (Agg: 0-1); Second leg in Budapest (Sun 15 Nov 19:45 GMT) |
| Bosnia-Herzegovina v Republic of Ireland (Agg 1-1); Second leg in Dublin (Mon 16 Nov 19:45 GMT) |
| Ukraine v Slovenia (Agg 2-0); second leg in Maribor (Tue 17 Nov 19:45 GMT) |
| Sweden v Denmark (Agg 2-1);Second leg in Copenhagen (Tues 17 Nov 19:45 GMT) |
| Read a guide to all of the play-off games here. |
Ukraine have lost in five previous qualifying play-offs for major tournaments - including a 3-2 aggregate reverse when they played Slovenia for a place at Euro 2000.
With former heavyweight boxing champion, now mayor of Kiev, Vitali Klitschko watching on in the stands, there seemed little chance of a repeat as Yarmolenko - the target of an unsuccessful bid by Premier League side Everton in August - and Yevhen Konoplyanka pulling the strings.
Despite a spell of late pressure, Slovenia, who picked up two of five yellow cards in a tetchy encounter, will have to show more adventure in the return in Maribor on Tuesday.
Line-ups
Ukraine
Formation 4-3-3
- 12Pyatov
- 17Fedetskiy
- 3KhacheridiBooked at 35mins
- 20RakitskiyBooked at 84mins
- 13Shevchuk
- 16Sydorchuk
- 18Rybalka
- 19GarmashSubstituted forMalinovskyat 80'minutes
- 7YarmolenkoSubstituted forKaravayevat 90+1'minutes
- 11SeleznyovBooked at 19minsSubstituted forKravetsat 84'minutes
- 10Konoplyanka
Substitutes
- 1Boyko
- 2Kamenyuka
- 4Tymoshchuk
- 5Pylyavskyi
- 6Petryak
- 8Malinovsky
- 9Gusev
- 14Karavayev
- 15Budkivsky
- 21Gladkiy
- 22Kravets
- 23Shevchenko
Slovenia
Formation 4-3-1-2
- 1Handanovic
- 2Brecko
- 6Ilic
- 5Cesar
- 13Jokic
- 8Kurtic
- 21KrhinBooked at 44mins
- 10BirsaSubstituted forPecnikat 72'minutes
- 20Kampl
- 7IlicicSubstituted forBezjakat 63'minutes
- 11NovakovicBooked at 35minsSubstituted forLjubijankicat 90'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Andjelkovic
- 4Samardzic
- 9Ljubijankic
- 12Oblak
- 14Lazarevic
- 15Struna
- 16Vidmar
- 17Kirm
- 18Rotman
- 19Pecnik
- 22Verbic
- 23Bezjak
- Referee:
- Jonas Eriksson
Match Stats
Home TeamUkraineAway TeamSlovenia
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away3
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away0
- Corners
- Home10
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away15
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Ukraine 2, Slovenia 0.
Post update
Corner, Slovenia. Conceded by Yevhen Khacheridi.
Post update
Foul by Oleksandr Karavayev (Ukraine).
Post update
Bojan Jokic (Slovenia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Ukraine. Oleksandr Karavayev replaces Andriy Yarmolenko.
Substitution
Substitution, Slovenia. Zlatan Ljubijankic replaces Milivoje Novakovic.
Post update
Attempt missed. Yevhen Konoplyanka (Ukraine) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ruslan Malinovsky.
Post update
Foul by Ruslan Malinovsky (Ukraine).
Post update
Jasmin Kurtic (Slovenia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Yaroslav Rakitskiy (Ukraine) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Yaroslav Rakitskiy (Ukraine).
Post update
Nejc Pecnik (Slovenia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Ukraine. Artem Kravets replaces Evgen Seleznyov.
Post update
Attempt saved. Ruslan Malinovsky (Ukraine) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Andriy Yarmolenko.
Substitution
Substitution, Ukraine. Ruslan Malinovsky replaces Denys Garmash.
Post update
Denys Garmash (Ukraine) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Kevin Kampl (Slovenia).
Post update
Foul by Yevhen Khacheridi (Ukraine).
Post update
Nejc Pecnik (Slovenia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
