Football fans at UNO Bistro in Etobicoke, ON watch the Wales - Ukraine play-off game on June 5. A disappointed Ukraine’s captain Andriy Yarmolenko is on the screen. Yarmolenko’s own goal was the only one in the game in June 5. Photo: NP-UN
New Pathway – Ukrainian News.
After the inspirational 3-1 win against Scotland earlier in the week in the FIFA World Cup playoff semifinal, Ukraine’s national football team lost the final game to Wales on Sunday. Wales proceeds to the 2022 FIFA World Cup scheduled to take place in Qatar from 21 November to 18 December 2022.
With the 68% ball possession and nine shots on target against three shots for Wales, Ukraine was the dominating team throughout the game and especially in the first half. But the captain Andriy Yarmolenko’s deflection of Gareth Bale’s first-half free-kick proved to be fatal for the team’s prospects.
On the background of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, the Sunday game and the outlook for Ukraine’s participation in the World Cup had some psychological significance for Ukrainians throughout the world. Ukraine’s win over Scotland brought cheers to many and, in particular, to the Ukrainian troops on the front lines.
However, the loss to Wales was not taken overly sadly on the background of the more serious events of the war.
The same kind of mood prevailed among the Ukrainian football fans who gathered at the Ukrainian National Federation of Canada – Toronto’s UNO Bistro at 145 Evans Ave. in Etobicoke, ON to watch the game. The fans were clearly disappointed by the result but stressed the bigger significance of Ukraine’s victory in the current war. The winner of the door prize pledged to donate the winning to a Ukraine-related cause to the cheers of the audience.
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