However, no one could have predicted such a score based on the opening minutes of the match. Oleksiy Mykhaylychenko's charges fully controlled the course of the game during this time, and the logical conclusion of this playing stretch was a goal in the 19th minute. Aliyev delivered a precise pass to Vorobey's run, who accelerated past a defender and burst one-on-one with the goalkeeper, sending the ball into the Chinese national team's net with a single touch. 1:0 the blue-and-yellows went ahead.
Before that moment, Milevskiy should have scored, but the forward of Kyiv's "Dynamo," having put a defender on the ground, could not beat the goalkeeper after a shot from about 10 meters.
In the 25th minute of the match, Aliyev demonstrated excellent dribbling, but after entering the Chinese team's penalty area he was fouled by a defender. The referee did not award a 100% penalty.
The Chinese team fully took advantage of its chance to reduce the gap in the score. After a cross from the left flank and a deflection off Arzhanov, the ball ended up with the Chinese national team's number 11, Zhu Ting, who equalized the score in the game with a "scissors" kick while falling.
Having scored a goal, the Chinese national team seemed to come back to life. The Ukrainian team, on the contrary, was not very active, advancing forward with fear.
At the beginning of the second half, the Ukrainians no longer had the same advantage as in the first 45 minutes. The team from Asia was no longer inferior to the Ukrainian national team in anything, and at times even dominated.
As a result, more active play near the Ukrainian national team's goal led to a penalty against Musin's goal. The ball hit Aliyev's hand in our penalty area and the referee from El Salvador awarded a penalty, which Chen Tao expertly converted, beating the Ukrainian goalkeeper.
So, the Chinese team goes ahead with a score of 2:1. However, four minutes later the referee restored the status quo via a penalty. After Aliyev's free-kick shot, the ball hit the post, and Sytnyk was first to the rebound, but he was stopped with a foul. Moreover, Zhu Ting was sent off for talking to the referee..
Aliyev scored his second penalty of the current World Championship and restored the balance - 2:2.
But the Ukrainians did not celebrate the goal for long. In the 75th minute, a mistake in defense led to a third goal into the Ukrainian team's net, which became the last in this match. After a corner kick, the defense missed Cui Peng, who with a header from four meters put his team ahead.
To equalize, the Ukrainians had several chances, but again Milevskiy failed to use two opportunities... By the way, the young "Dynamo" forward probably felt like a "star" after the game with Panama, but too soon. In the game with China, he was the least active in Mykhaylychenko's team and one of those who made the most mistakes in passing.
In order to take second place and advance to the next round, the Ukrainians now need to defeat the Turkish team. There is also a scenario in which we can advance even from third place, but this is, as they say, "just in case."
Yatsenko and Arzhanov will miss the match against Turkey due to accumulated yellow cards.
Ukraine (U-20) – China (U-20) – 2:3 Goals: Zhu Ting 31, Chen Tao 66 - from penalty, Cui Peng 75, Vorobey 19, Aliyev 70 - from penalty. UKRAINE: 1. Musin Leonid, 3. Dopilka Oleh, 4. Kitsuta Anatoliy, 5. Yatsenko Oleksandr, 8. Aliyev Oleksandr, 9. Sytnyk Oleksandr (Feshchuk 75), 10. Milevskiy Artem, 14. Arzhanov Volodymyr (Rozhok 57), 15. Yarmash Hryhoriy (Herasymyuk 80), 16. Vorobey Dmytro, 17. Samborskyy Volodymyr.
Tournament standings: 1. China – 6 points (2 games). 2. Ukraine – 3 (2). 3. Turkey – 0 (1). 4. Panama – 0 (1).