The Ukraine national football team suffered its third consecutive defeat in the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 campaign. In the fifth round of Group B2, the team coached by Italian specialist Andrea Maldera lost away to Northern Ireland with a score of 0:1, officially missing the opportunity to compete for first place in the quartet. The match in Belfast became another severe test for the Ukrainians: despite territorial dominance, the "blue-and-yellows" failed to convert possession into goals, and a single defensive mistake in the second half proved decisive. A detailed review of the match and its tournament implications is provided by Sport RBC.UA.

First Half: Possession Without Cutting Edge and Trubin's Saves

The match began with Ukraine dominating possession, yet they created very few dangerous chances near the opponent's goal. In the 23rd minute, the hosts even scored when Jamie Donley put the ball in the net, but following a VAR review, the goal was disallowed for offside. Shortly after, Ukraine goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin twice rescued the team with close-range saves. The best opportunity for the "blue-and-yellows" in the first half came from a pass by Danylo Sikan, which put Oleksandr Kashchuk practically one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but Pierce Charles blocked the shot with his legs. The teams went into halftime at 0:0.

Devlin's Decisive Strike in the 68th Minute

In the second half, Northern Ireland seized the initiative, playing with greater attacking intent and more frequently threatening the Ukrainian goal, where Trubin was forced into action several times. The turning point arrived during a corner kick in the 68th minute: the Ukrainian defense failed to deal with the cross, and Terry Devlin fired a shot from outside the penalty area to open the scoring. This goal ultimately decided the outcome of the match, as the Ukrainians failed to mount a comeback.

Maldera's Substitutions and Missed Chance in the 90th Minute

After conceding, Andrea Maldera attempted to bolster the attack with substitutions: Oleh Synchuk and Ihor Krasnopir entered the pitch, followed shortly by Yehor Nazarina and Artem Dovbyk. Nevertheless, the Ukrainians struggled to create genuine threats to the opponent's goal for a long time. It wasn't until the 90th minute that Kashchuk broke down the left flank and crossed to Sikan, whose first-time shot was brilliantly saved by the home goalkeeper. The final result was a narrow 0:1 defeat, marking the team's third consecutive loss in the tournament.

Group B2 Standings and Prospects Before the Final Round

After five rounds, the Group B2 standings look as follows: Northern Ireland — 11 points, Hungary — 10, Ukraine — 4, Georgia — 2. Consequently, the Ukraine national team has mathematically lost all chances of finishing first and earning promotion to League A. However, the team still retains the opportunity to fight for third place and avoid direct relegation to League C. The decisive group stage fixture will take place on November 17, when Ukraine faces Georgia in a match that will determine whether they stay in the current Nations League division.