Scotland 1-3 Ukraine LIVE! Dovbyk goal - World Cup play-off result, match stream and latest updates today

Scotland vs Ukraine - LIVE!

Scotland’s 2022 World Cup hopes ended in comprehensive fashion after a 3-1 defeat by Ukraine in their play-off semi-final at an emotionally-charged Hampden Park.

Worldwide attention was on the game due to Russia’s invasion of their neighbours in February but when the focus turned to football it was Ukraine who were the more accomplished.

Scotland’s 39-year-old keeper Craig Gordon kept the visitors at bay only until the 33rd minute when skipper Andriy Yarmolenko deservedly put the visitors ahead and Roman Yaremchuk doubled that lead with a header three minutes after the break.

Midfielder Callum McGregor pulled a goal back in the 79th minute as Steve Clarke’s men rallied but it was too little too late and Ukraine substitute Artem Dovbyk drove in a breakaway third in added time to book a place against Wales in the play-off final in Cardiff on Sunday.

Relive how it all happened with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below...

Scotland vs Ukraine latest news

• GOAL! Dovbyk seals Ukraine win with final kick

• GOAL! McGregor halves deficit

• GOAL! Yaremchuk double lead with header

• GOAL! Yarmolenko puts Ukraine in front

Scotland 1 - 3 Ukraine

Match report

22:36 , Matt Verri

Ukraine moved a step closer to reaching the 2022 World Cup with a superb 3-1 win over Scotland at Hampden Park to reach the play-off final.

In a match originally scheduled for March but postponed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it was the visitors who were by far the better side and Andriy Yarmolenko, leaving West Ham this summer, put them in front going into the break.

Roman Yaremchuk made it two shortly after half-time and although Callum McGregor pulled one back late on, Artem Dovbyk sealed the result with the final kick of the match on the break.

It set up a winner-takes-all affair for Ukraine gainst Wales on Sunday - whoever comes out on top in Cardiff will book their place in Qatar, where England, Iran and the USA are waiting in Group B.

Click here for our full match report!

Robertson reflects on frustrating display

22:21 , Matt Verri

“Hugely disappointing. We’ve waited a long time for this game.

“Our performances before this game were really good, but today we didn’t really show up. Ukraine settled into the game quicker than us, and it kind of continued. We knew they were going to get tired, and that was the case, but we gave ourselves too much of an uphill battle.

“We didn’t play the way we wanted to play, and that’s the most disappointing thing. It’s passed us by now, and after a really positive campaign, we’ve let ourselves down tonight. We have to hurt, reflect, that’s the World Cup gone for another four years, and that’s really harsh.

“But we have to stick together as a group. All we can say is sorry to the fans for disappointing them, but we’ll dust ourselves down and go again.”

Zinchenko’s post-match reaction

22:09 , Matt Verri

“To be fair, obviously everyone knows the situation in Ukraine, and every single game for us is like a final game.

“But we dream like a team to be at the World Cup, and we have one more game, one more final, and we need to win it, we need to take it, otherwise this game is not going to mean anything. We played quite well, apart from maybe 20 minutes in the second half. Scotland is a great team.

“They play an open game, not our style, but we did well, scoring three goals and we could have scored another. Wales is going to be a massive game for us.

“We need to show the best performance in our lives, and we’ll see what will happen.”

Night to remember for Ukraine!

21:59 , Matt Verri

21:53 , Matt Verri

So Ukraine are off to Wales on Sunday. Cardiff will host the World Cup play-off final.

Whoever comes out on top will be in Qatar at the end of the year, going into Group B alongside England, Iran and the USA.

Sealed in style!

21:49 , Matt Verri

How Scotland got back into it...

21:43 , Matt Verri

FT: Scotland 1-3 Ukraine

21:41 , Matt Verri

Ukraine are through to the World Cup play-off final!

Sensational performance from the visitors, especially considering the circumstances.

They’re off to Cardiff on Sunday to play Wales. For Scotland, the wait for a World Cup appearance goes on. 24 years and counting...

GOAL! Scotland 1-3 Ukraine | Artem Dovbyk 90+5 mins

21:39 , Matt Verri

HE DOES IT THIS TIME THOUGH!

Zinchenko slides a lovely pass straight through the middle, Dovbyk does the rest with the final kick of the game!

21:38 , Matt Verri

90+4 mins: Dovbyk wastes yet another huge chance to put the match to bed!

Scotland have to send it long...

21:37 , Matt Verri

90+2 mins: BIG CHANCE FOR UKRAINE!

That should be that. Zinchenko has been outrageously good all night and he puts it on a plate... fired wide.

Scotland can send it long again.

21:35 , Matt Verri

90+1 mins: Corner Scotland! Surely Gordon has got to come up... he’s staying back for now. Booooo.

McGinn whips it in long, too much on it and Hanley can only head it behind for a goal-kick. Poor delivery.

21:34 , Matt Verri

90 mins: It’s four minutes added on.

Now or never for Scotland!

21:33 , Matt Verri

89 mins: Gordon hammers the ball long, Hendry and Hanley both playing up front.

Ukraine struggling to keep the ball at all now. Pressure pretty much non-stop.

21:31 , Matt Verri

86 mins: We’re now at peak tension.

Scotland trying to pin Ukraine back, the visitors doing anything they can to slow things up. Got to feel there’s still at least one more big chance in this for the hosts.

21:29 , Matt Verri

84 mins: Ukraine still look dangerous when they counter and there’s more and more space.

Zinchenko happy to just slow things up this time and ensure his side keep the ball - played all the way back to the goalkeeper.

21:25 , Matt Verri

81 mins: UKRAINE HAVE TO SCORE!

They should be 3-1 up! Glorious pass sets Dovbyk away, he’s clean through but McGregor comes flying back and nips in before the shot gets away.

GOAL! Scotland 1-2 Ukraine | Callum McGregor 79'

21:24 , Matt Verri

SCOTLAND RIGHT BACK IN IT!

Long ball into the box, goalkeeper makes a bit of a mess of it under pressure from McTominay.

McGregor turns it back at goal, cleared off the line... NO! Referee says it had crossed.

21:22 , Matt Verri

78 mins: Yaremchuk strolling off the pitch as he’s replaced, Dovbyk coming on. Not exactly a warm goodbye for Yaremchuk, Scotland fans not happy with the speed of his exit.

Yarmolenko also coming off, Zubkov replacing him.

21:20 , Matt Verri

76 mins: Ukraine dampening the mood at Hampden by just keeping possession, this is good from them.

They lost it now though and Scotland send it long to Adams who has made the run in behind. Drives into the box, drills an effort at goal. Well saved. Rebound out to McGinn, deflected over the bar.

21:17 , Matt Verri

73 mins: Good footwork from Armstrong, just onto the pitch.

Onto his left foot, just outside the area but it’s a really weak effort straight at the goalkeeper. Pressure really on the Ukraine defence now.

Massive moment!

21:16 , Matt Verri

21:13 , Matt Verri

69 mins: Hendry and Armstrong on for Scotland, Cooper and Gilmour off.

This is going to be a long, long 20 minutes for the visitors. Robertson clips a cross into the box, just over everyone though and behind. Home fans right behind their side again.

21:11 , Matt Verri

67 mins: WHAT A MISS! HOW HAS MCGINN NOT SCORED?!

Wow. Christie slides McTominay in, his cross is straight at the goalkeeper but he makes a complete mess of it. Fumbled straight onto the head of McGinn and he somehow heads wide from a matter of yards. Under no pressure.

21:10 , Matt Verri

66 mins: Scotland having slightly more joy now, Christie getting on the ball. Deep cross into the box, Robertson does well to keep the attacking going but nobody there with him.

Ukraine sitting right back now... and they’ll be thrilled to see Gilmour pass it straight out of play.

21:07 , Matt Verri

63 mins: Christie’s effort comfortably saved, match starting to become increasingly stretched. Scotland know they have to go for it.

That will leave room on the counter for Ukraine though, where they’ve looked dangerous.

21:05 , Matt Verri

61 mins: Yarmolenko crunched by Cooper, defender absolutely flew into the challenge. Got enough of the ball to get away with it though, good tackle to be fair.

Scotland need more of that, they’ve been really flat in the hour played so far.

21:03 , Matt Verri

59 mins: Home fans absolutely furious as the referee blows the whistle with Scotland away on the counter.

McGinn slides in and wins the ball, but free-kick is given. Maybe slightly high with the studs.

21:01 , Matt Verri

57 mins: SO CLOSE!

That would have lifted the mood inside Hampden. Ball played back to Bushchan, the Ukraine goalkeeper is in no rush and his clearance is charged down by McGregor. Inches away from finding the back of the net!

20:59 , Matt Verri

54 mins: Zinchenko fires a corner into a brilliant area, through everyone and away to safety.

Hosts have barely had a touch since they conceded a second goal - they’ve got another corner to defend now.

20:56 , Matt Verri

51 mins: Scotland look all over the place whenever Ukraine come forward.

Zinchenko and Yarmolenko nearly combine, but the visitors are forced to turn back. Home fans less than impressed with what they’re seeing.

Yarmolenko drifts into space and fires an effort at goal... saved!

GOAL! Scotland 0-2 Ukraine | Roman Yaremchuk 49'

20:53 , Matt Verri

UKRAINE DOUBLE THEIR LEAD!

Sensational start to the second-half. So easy for them though.

Yarmolenko lays the ball back, cross clipped into the back post and Yaremchuk is not to be denied. Gets up brilliantly and just nods it back across goal and into the bottom corner.

20:51 , Matt Verri

47 mins: So an extra body in midfield for Scotland as they look to try and get some control of the match.

Adams a sole figure up front but Christie will support him at every opportunity.

Back underway!

20:49 , Matt Verri

Here we go again. Christie on for Dykes at the start of the half.

20:46 , Matt Verri

More possession, more shots, more shots on target, more corners... and a goal to show for it.

Ukraine lead all of the stats after 45 minutes, while Scotland are yet to trouble Bushchan. Big team-talk for Clarke.

Good company to keep!

20:42 , Matt Verri

How visitors took the lead

20:39 , Matt Verri

HT: Scotland 0-1 Ukraine

20:34 , Matt Verri

And that’s half-time at Hampden Park.

Ukraine have the lead thanks to Yarmolenko’s goal and they deserve to be in front too after a really impressive display.

Scotland booed off at the break.

20:31 , Matt Verri

44 mins: Malinovsky drives straight through the centre of Scotland’s midfield and nobody closes him down. Has options to his left but goes for goal instead, drags it badly wide.

Scotland send it long and Dykes is into the book for catching Stepanenko with an elbow as the pair challenged in the air.

20:29 , Matt Verri

42 mins: Scotland seeing more of the ball now with Gilmour and McTominay getting on it but struggling to create anything.

McGregor forces the issue with a long-range effort, deflected into the path of McGinn but he can’t beat his man.

20:27 , Matt Verri

39 mins: Scottish fans starting to get frustrated. Not happy as Hickey has to turn back and play the ball to the defence.

Five minutes to go until half-time, Ukraine continue to look really dangerous when they come forward while still solid at the back. It’s a good combination.

20:24 , Matt Verri

37 mins: Robertson playing like a man who feels like he has to do it all himself.

Past one, past two, tries to beat a third defender... runs out of play. Didn’t quite have enough space left.

20:23 , Matt Verri

36 mins: That goal is more than deserved for Ukraine. Been much the better side and had the clearer chances.

Scotland have to respond now, they haven’t been great so far. Robertson and Dykes the only ones at it in the opening 35 minutes.

GOAL! Scotland 0-1 Ukraine | Andriy Yarmolenko 33'

20:20 , Matt Verri

UKRAINE TAKE THE LEAD AT HAMPDEN!

Brilliant pass, wonderful finish. Long ball played over the top, Yarmolenko is played onside by Hanley and he’s in behind.

Perfect first touch to bring it down and then just lifts the ball over Gordon, who can’t do anything. Superb from Yarmolenko.

20:18 , Matt Verri

31 mins: Lovely move from Ukraine sets Tsygankov away down the left. Takes too long to put the cross in though and McTominay can get across to concede a corner.

Decent ball in from Zinchenko but Scotland head it away.

20:16 , Matt Verri

29 mins: Really good from Dykes, holds the ball up and then beats a couple of challenges before setting Adams away.

He has Robertson flying forward on the left in space, but the striker can’t really get the ball out of his feet. Ends up scuffing the pass straight to a yellow shirt. Decent chance to counter wasted.

20:14 , Matt Verri

27 mins: Yarmolenko seems to just be playing wherever he wants.

Drops deep to pick up the ball this time, shifts the ball onto his right foot and goes for goal from distance. Always rising over.

20:12 , Matt Verri

25 mins: Scotland’s best move of the match, their threat is entirely coming down the left.

McGregor makes the run in behind, cuts it back to McGinn and he fires the effort well over the bar. Much better.

20:11 , Matt Verri

24 mins: Robertson decides to take matters into his own hands. Just bundles his way through a couple of challenges and looks to drill it at goal from a tight angle - deflected behind.

Liverpool man takes the corner himself, Ukraine clear.

20:10 , Matt Verri

23 mins: Yarmolenko and Zinchenko increasingly involved, with the Ukraine forward drifting off the left wing.

At the other end of the pitch, Gilmour clips it into the box and Adams goes down. To say that would have been a soft penalty would be an understatement.

20:07 , Matt Verri

20 mins: Scotland are being opened up at the back.

Ball played inside Hanley, the defender doesn’t read it and Yaremchuk is in but he can’t quite poke it past Gordon as the goalkeeper flies off his line.

Brilliantly worked from the corner, Yaremchuk with a decent chance but he can’t divert it towards goal.

20:04 , Matt Verri

17 mins: INCREDIBLE SAVE!

Ukraine have to take the lead! Yaremchuk free in the box, takes too long to get the shot away but it falls for Yarmolenko instead. Six-yards out, completely free... Gordon somehow denies him.

Ball trickles back towards the net but Gordon pounces on it. Sensational.

Superb from Gordon!

20:02 , Matt Verri

20:00 , Matt Verri

13 mins: Dykes has won every header so far when Scotland play it long, so good in the air.

Nobody has been able to get on the end of any flick-ons or knock-downs yet though. Scotland have to get round him.

19:58 , Matt Verri

11 mins: Yarmolenko skips past Cooper and goes down, he wants a free-kick. Not going to get it.

Scotland get one though as Malinovsky goes straight through Dykes and incredibly complains about the decision. Not a good challenge at all - he’s earned a yellow card too!

19:55 , Matt Verri

8 mins: McGregor’s turn to produce a lunging tackle that is badly mistimed. He gets away with just conceding a free-kick.

WHAT A SAVE! Ukraine so close to taking the lead! Ball played into the Scotland box, runs through to Tsygankov and he fires it first-time at goal. Gordon does brilliantly to tip it over the bar.

19:52 , Matt Verri

6 mins: That’s a really bad challenge from Yaremchuk. He has flown in on Gilmour, got nowhere near the ball and it’s an early yellow card for the Ukraine man.

Robertson was away down the left but referee opts to stop play immediately.

19:51 , Matt Verri

4 mins: Simple but very nearly effective from Scotland.

Long ball pinged into Dykes, he flicks it on and the ball almost drops for Adams in the box. Just about scrambled away.

Adams and Dykes playing right up front alongside each other.

19:49 , Matt Verri

2 mins: Scotland pressing really high early on as Ukraine play out from the back - home crowd will not be accepting any sitting back!

Six of Ukraine’s starting XI are based domestically, so have not played a competitive match for almost six months.

KICK-OFF!

19:47 , Matt Verri

We are underway at Hampden Park!

19:44 , Matt Verri

Ukrainian national anthem blasted out. Huge ovation from the crowd as it finishes.

Flower of Scotland with a typically strong rendition too - we are pretty much ready for kick-off!

19:40 , Matt Verri

Here we go then - players are in the tunnel!

Incredible atmosphere at Hampden. Visitors all have a Ukraine flag draped over them as they walk out.

Make that 10 minutes... preparations done!

19:36 , Matt Verri

19:31 , Matt Verri

Huge support for Ukraine inside Hampden Park tonight.

Scotland fans are expected to join in the with the Ukrainian national anthem, in a show of solidarity with the visitors.

Shevchenko looks ahead to a huge night

19:26 , Matt Verri

Robertson: Everyone wants Ukraine to win

19:20 , Matt Verri

Andy Robertson admits Scotland will need be popular among neutrals tonight as he called on his teammates to deal with the emotion in the stadium.

“Probably everyone in the world wants Ukraine to win,” Robertson told BBC Sport.

“If it was any other country, I would probably want them to win but unfortunately they’re playing against my country and we have to stand in their way.

“We know they’ll be up for it and we have to be ready for that challenge. They’ll be full of emotion and it’s important we deal with the occasion well and that our fans make an atmosphere that is supportive and as loud as Hampden’s been.

“If we do that, it gives us the best possible chance to try and achieve our dream.”

Out for a look at the pitch!

19:13 , Matt Verri

How they got here

19:06 , Matt Verri

Ukraine were unbeaten in their qualifying group as they edged into second place, just a point above Finland. Six draws and two wins same them through to the play-offs, behind France... all four of Ukraine’s home matches finished 1-1!

For Scotland, 23 points would have been enough to win many qualifying groups but they had to settle for second behind Denmark. A defeat in Copenhagen was the only blip of the campaign as they comfortably made the play-offs.

Plenty of love for Aaron Hickey!

18:59 , Matt Verri

Aaron Hickey starts tonight for Scotland, benefitting from the absence of Kieran Tierney.

The 19-year-old joined Italian side Bologna from Hearts in September 2020 and has impressed in Serie A, with rumours linking him with a move to Arsenal this summer.

Hickey won’t be thinking about any of that now though, on such a huge night for the Scotland team.

Here come Scotland!

18:48 , Matt Verri

Gordon calls for focus from Scotland

18:41 , Matt Verri

Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordan has urged his teammates to treat tonight’s match like any other.

“It’s still a football match, it’s 11 v 11 and no matter what’s going on out with that it’s about us sticking together and putting out a game plan in place, making sure we do what we can,” Gordan said.

“If we do that we’re confident we’ve got enough ability in the team to win the match, although it’s going to be a very difficult one.

“Whatever other outside factors and what people may think, we’re football players. We’re trained to go out there and play football and that’s what we’ll do.”

18:34 , Matt Verri

So Zinchenko in his usual midfield role for Ukraine, with Everton’s Mykolenko at left-back.

Yarmolenko, who is leaving West Ham this summer, starts in the front three for the visitors tonight.

Ukraine team

18:30 , Matt Verri

Starting XI: Bushchan, Karavaev, Zabarnyl, Matvlyenko, Mykolenko, Stepanenko, Malinosvkyi, Zinchenko, Tsygankov, Yaremchuk, Yarmolenko

18:28 , Matt Verri

Flexible looking side from Scotland. McTominay could well be in a back three, or it’s a midfield three alongside Gilmour and McGregor.

What is for sure is that Dykes and Adams are the two up front!

Scotland team

18:19 , Matt Verri

Starting XI: Gordon, McTominay, Hanley, Cooper, Hickey, Gilmour, McGregor, Robertson, McGinn, Dykes, Adams.

Subs: Marshall, Kelly, Souttar, Hendry, McKenna, O’Donnell, Armstrong, Christie, Stewart, Brown, Ferguson, Taylor.

What’s on offer

18:17 , Matt Verri

Reminder that tonight is a World Cup play-off semi-final... still work to do for whoever wins tonight.

A final against Wales in Cardiff on Sunday is the prize, when a place in Qatar will be on offer.

England, Iran and the USA wait for the winner in Group B.

Zinchenko: We want to give incredible emotions to Ukrainians

18:08 , Matt Verri

Oleksandr Zinchenko and his teammates are desperate to move one step closer to the World Cup, with the Ukrainian captain emotionally explaining the important of the players winning for those back home.

“Every Ukrainian wants one thing - to stop this war,” Zinchenko said.

“I spoke to people from different countries, all over the world and I spoke to some Ukrainian kids who just don’t understand what’s happening back in Ukraine.

“They only want the war to stop. They have one dream to stop the war.

“When it comes to football, the team, we have our own dream. We want to go to the World Cup, want to give these incredible emotions to the Ukrainians because they deserve it so much at this very moment.”

Ukraine driven by raw emotion

17:59 , Matt Verri

Were tonight’s World Cup play-off semi-final decided by public vote, it would be a walkover.

Taking this month’s Eurovision Song Contest as evidence, the groundswell of continent-wide support for Ukraine following Russia’s invasion is such that Scotland would be handed a hammering the like of which they have not experienced even in the bleakest moments of the 24-year World Cup exodus they are seeking to end.

Fortunately for Steve Clarke and his side, goals not phone calls will determine who goes on to face Wales for a place in Qatar, with Hampden Park, not the court of public opinion, the stage, though even that will be lacking a touch of its usual pre-match hostility, with home fans set to join in the singing of the Ukrainian national anthem in a show of unity.

Read Malik Ouzia’s full preview here.

Montage alert!

17:51 , Matt Verri

Prediction

17:45 , Matt Verri

With so much on the line, it’s unlikely to be a gung-ho appraoch from either side in the early stages at Hampden Park.

Scotland have not lost a World Cup qualifier on home soil since 2013 so go into the play-off as slight favourites, against a side dealing with so much off the pitch.

There’s very little to separate the two sides and home advantage could well edge the encounter in Scotland’s favour.

Scotland to win, 2-1.

Ukraine team news

17:37 , Matt Verri

Manchester City star Oleksandr Zinchenko should start in the centre of midfield for his country, with Everton’s Vitaliy Mykolenko at left-back and West Ham’s Andriy Yarmolenko in the forward line.

Aside from those playing around Europe, a squad of 21 home-based players have been training together in Slovenia since the start of the month before travelling to play in three friendlies.

Scotland team news

17:28 , Matt Verri

Liverpool defender Andy Robertson is expected to continue his hectic season by starting for Scotland, just days after defeat in the Champions League final in Paris.

Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney misses out with injury while Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack has been forced to withdraw from the squad. Nathan Patterson has lost his race to recover in time from ankle surgery.

Predicted Scotland XI: Gordon; Hendry, Hanley, Cooper; O’Donnell, McTominay, McGregor, Robertson; McGinn, Armstrong; Adams.

How to watch Scotland vs Ukraine

17:22 , Matt Verri

TV channel: In the UK, tonight’s game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football. Coverage begins at 7pm.

Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers will also be able to watch the action online via the Sky Go app.

Live blog: You can follow all the action right here with us!

Good evening!

17:15 , Matt Verri

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Scotland vs Ukraine!

It’s a World Cup play-off semi-final tonight, with the winner going through to face Wales on Sunday in Cardiff.

We’ll have all the latest updates and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 7:45pm BST from Hampden Park.