The first half was an even battle on equal terms with both teams actively looking for opportunities. The blue-and-yellow team earned several potentially dangerous set pieces, but they were unable to capitalize on them. The intense play led to two forced substitutions before halftime. The hosts had to remove Hekimoglu from the field in the middle of the half, and at the end of the first half, Ukraine's number one Kravtsov was injured and could not continue — he was replaced by Paholuk.

Photo by Andriy Hrabovskiy

After the break, the blue-and-yellow team continued to look for chances near the opponent's goal. Krevsun executed a dangerous penalty kick but did not hit the target. On the 67th minute, Glushchenko made a brilliant individual run into the opposing penalty area: after outmaneuvering several defenders, our half-back shot from an acute angle, but the ball hit the near post.

Photo by Andriy Hrabovskiy

The dynamic play on equal terms ended with a conceded goal. After an aerial pass, Paholuk played the ball out of his hands and cleared it over the penalty area line, but Ilhan was first to the loose ball and scored low past the goalkeeper.

Photo by Andriy Hrabovskiy

In stoppage time, after Pishchur's shot from a tight angle, Synchuk had the chance to equalize but was unable to adjust and missed the goal. In summary — a second consecutive loss with a score of 0-1. The blue-and-yellow team will play their next match in Euro-2027 (U-21) qualifiers on March 27 against group outsiders, Lithuania.

Euro-2027 (U-21). Qualifying tournament. Group H

Turkey (U-21) — Ukraine (U-21) — 1:0 (0:0)

Goal: Ilhan (73).

Turkey (U-21): Ertaş, Karapo, Güreler, Akçığ, Yılmaz, İlhan (Kalaycı, 85), Tıknaz (Aydın, 70), Vural, Chanak, Kılıçoğlu (c) (Habeshoğlu, 31), Hekimoglu (Bostan, 31).

Ukraine (U-21): Kravtsov (Paholuk, 44), Korinychuk, Zakharchenko, Kisil, Krups'kyi (c), Krevsun, Varfolomeyev (Pastukh, 83), Tserenko (Glushchenko, 46), Matveichuk (Slesar, 46), Stepanov (Pishchur, 56), Synchuk.

Yellow cards: Chanak (37), Karapo (62), Vural (50), Aydın (85), Güreler (88), Ertaş (90+1) — Korinychuk (16), Krevsun (49), Kisil (56).

November 14. Istanbul. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Stadium.

Tournament table

Euro-2027 (U-21). Qualifying tournament. Group H

September 5, 2025

Lithuania — Ukraine — 0:4

September 9, 2025

Lithuania — Hungary — 1:1

Turkey — Croatia — 1:1

October 10, 2025

Ukraine — Hungary — 3:3

Turkey — Lithuania — 2:0

October 14, 2025

Croatia — Ukraine — 1:0

Hungary — Turkey — 1:1

November 13, 2025

Croatia — Lithuania — 4:0

November 14, 2025

Turkey — Ukraine — 1:0

November 18, 2025

Lithuania — Turkey 

Hungary — Croatia

March 27, 2026

Ukraine — Lithuania

March 31, 2026

Hungary — Ukraine

Croatia — Turkey

September 26, 2026

Ukraine — Turkey

Croatia — Hungary

October 1, 2026

Hungary — Lithuania

October 2, 2026

Ukraine — Croatia

October 6, 2026

Turkey — Hungary

Lithuania — Croatia

In the final stage of Euro-2027 (U-21), 16 teams will participate: Albania, Serbia and another 14 qualifiers joining them based on their results in the qualifying tournament (nine group winners, the best team among second-placed teams, and four playoff winners).