Today, on November 4, the Ukraine U-16 national team (players born in 2010) conducted their first of two planned friendlies against local counterparts during a training camp in Italy.

The game was quite eventful. The Italians took an early lead with a dangerous shot over the crossbar within the first minute, and shortly after, Sychov saved his teammates from a one-on-one situation with an opponent's forward. Unfortunately, Sychov made a mistake soon afterward, and Eghearevba did not spare our goalkeeper.

Photo courtesy of the UAF press service

The Ukrainians equalized fairly quickly. On the 18th minute, Dziurynets passed from the right flank, and Bodak played a one-on-one with the goalkeeper and scored from close range. Later, Bodak had an opportunity to score again but the Italian keeper reacted well to his shot into the far corner.

Only the hosts were scoring until halftime. First, Bernamonte scored with a long-range shot that slipped through the legs of our defenders and goalkeeper, and shortly after, Scaglione played off a throw-in and struck from an acute angle — 3:1.

In the second half, Volodymyr Samborsky made two substitutions. Gonchenko reduced the deficit on the 48th minute with a quick counterattack. However, the Italians quickly responded by punishing our team for an unmarked player in their penalty area. In the second half, Galdin was called into action and conceded two penalties within four minutes — both converted by Pipito. On the 77th minute, Salvaye set the final score at 6:2 in favor of Italy.

The second friendly match between the youth national teams of Italy and Ukraine will take place on November 6 (kickoff at 12:00 Kyiv time).

Friendship Match

Italy (U-16) - Ukraine (U-16) - 6:2 (3:1)

Goals: Eghearevba (11), Bernamonte (23), Scaglione (29), Pipito (52, from the penalty spot, 56, from the penalty spot), Salvaye (77) — Bodak (18), Gonchenko (48).

Italy (U-16): Kostante, Dattilo (Foroni, 61), Samà (Salvaye, 72), Damonte (c) (Ceé, 80), Zito (Elena, 80), Bernamonte (Defocinida, 72), Blandinà (Norelli, 61), Eghearevba (Rolando, 61), Scaglione (Barbone, 80), Pipito (Rastello, 72), Ardenì (Mantovani, 80).

Coach: Manuel Pasquale. 

Ukraine (U-16): Sychov (Galdin, 46), Misura (Abramovich, 63), Kislyanka (Begmetiuk, 71), Birladjanu, Dziurynets (Osiumhin, 63), Reznik, Donik (Gonchenko, 46), Hordeiev (Rybak, 71), Bodak (c) (Martynyuk, 63), Fedushko (Serdyusovskiy, 63), Falkovskyi (Mazur, 53).

Coach: Volodymyr Samborsky.

Yellow cards: Misura (55), Birladjanu (87).