The Ukraine national futsal team secured its second consecutive victory in the main round of the 2028 World Cup qualifiers. In the second-round match held in Bratislava, Oleksandr Kosenko's side defeated the hosts, Slovakia, 2-1 away. For the "blue-and-yellows," this success continues a confident start to the qualifiers: in the first round, the team thrashed Estonia 9-2 and has now solidified its position at the top of the group.

The Goalkeeper as a Playmaker

The Ukrainians took the lead before halftime. In the 19th minute, Mykola Mykytyuk opened the scoring, capitalizing on an accurate pass from goalkeeper Oleksandr Sukhov. This episode demonstrated a tactic typical of the modern national team, where the goalkeeper actively participates in building up attacks and becomes a key playmaker in positional offense.

Doubling the Lead After the Break

In the second half, Kosenko's team continued to control the flow of the match and did not allow the opponent to impose their game. In the 34th minute, Rostyslav Semenchenko doubled the guests' advantage, scoring after a pass from Danyil Abakshyn. The Ukrainians' brace by the middle of the second half effectively determined the match outcome, leaving the hosts with only the task of saving the game.

Fifth Outfield Player and Shevchyk's Red Card

Toward the end, the Slovaks switched to playing with a fifth outfield player, trying to equalize. In the 37th minute, the hosts were left a man down after Shevchyk was sent off, depriving them of any remaining chances for an equal contest. Tomas Dragovsky reduced the deficit in the final minute, but Slovakia could not avoid defeat — the final score remained 2-1 in favor of Ukraine.

Leading Position in Group 9

After two played rounds, the Ukraine national team occupies first place in Group 9 with six points. Slovakia is second with three points, while Estonia has yet to score a point. Thus, the "blue-and-yellows" approach their home matches as the sole leader of the qualifying group.

Home Matches and the Road to the Elite Round

The Ukraine national team will play its next qualifying matches in 2027. On February 26, Oleksandr Kosenko's team will host Estonia at home, and on March 2, they will face Slovakia. To reach the elite round of the qualifiers, the Ukrainians must either win their group or finish among the top four runner-up teams. Thus, both home meetings will be decisive in the battle for direct advancement to the next stage.