Ukraine’s youth national team played an away friendly match against the Portugal U-21 national team in preparation for the 2025 European Championships, with the encounter ending in a 3:3 draw.

Anton Tsarenko started the match against Portugal in the starting line-up. Our midfielder remained on the pitch until the 63rd minute of the match, when he was replaced on the pitch by Oleg Fedor. Maksym Khlan and Bohdan Viunnyk appeared on the playing field in the 46th minute of the match.

The meeting started with a quick lead for Ukraine – as early as in the 4th minute Arseniy Batagov confidently used a penalty kick. However, the hosts quickly responded with three hits. Rafael Rodrigues levelled the score in the 17th minute and Mateus Fernandes took the Portuguese into the lead in the 38th minute. Just before the break, in the 44th minute, an unlucky suicide goal by Batagov increased the hosts’ lead.

In the second half, Ukraine threw itself into making up for the loss. In the 56th minute, Maksym Khlan took advantage of a penalty kick, reducing the gap to one goal. In the end, the hero of the match turned out to be Arseniy Batagov, who hit the net in the 86th minute, rehabilitating himself for his earlier own goal and setting the match score at 3:3.

Maksym Khlan, Anton Tsarenko and Bohdan Viunnyk will again be available to play in the national team colours next Tuesday when the Ukrainian youth national team face Italy U-21 in Spezia. The match will kick off at 18:15.