March 23, (THEWILL) – Belgium overturned a two-goal deficit from the first leg to defeat Ukraine 3-0 in their UEFA Nations League A/B play-off on Sunday, at Cegeka Arena. The victory resulted in a 4-3 aggregate win, maintaining the Red Devils’ status in the top tier and ending their winless record against Ukraine.
Three goals in 16 minutes during the second half proved decisive, with Maxim De Cuyper, Romelu Lukaku, and Kevin De Bruyne central to the comeback. The hosts applied pressure from the start, seeking to level the tie. Kevin De Bruyne directed Belgium’s attacks, nearly scoring with a curling shot, while Ukraine’s defence, led by Oleksandr Svatok, held firm early on.
The Blue and Yellow struggled to create chances, with Oleksandr Zinchenko’s wide effort their only notable attempt before the break. Frustration grew among the home crowd due to Ukraine’s time-wasting tactics, which saw Zinchenko booked. After half-time, Timothy Castagne and Leandro Trossard missed opportunities, and Andriy Lunin made key saves to deny De Bruyne and Hans Vanaken.
Ukraine remained compact, with Mykola Matviyenko deflecting a Lukaku shot wide. The game shifted in the 69th minute when substitutes Maxim De Cuyper and Jérémy Doku combined, the former scoring the opener with a precise finish past Lunin. The momentum swung firmly in Belgium’s favour. Six minutes later, Lukaku volleyed in a De Bruyne cross to equalise the aggregate score.
Ukraine responded, with Artem Dovbyk’s header tipped wide, but Belgium sealed the win in the 86th minute. Lukaku latched onto a Vanaken through ball and finished clinically, ensuring a 3-0 result on the night. The defeat ended Ukraine’s five-match unbeaten run and confirmed their return to League B. This result keeps Belgium ever-present in UEFA Nations League League A, a status they have held since the competition began.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
