The result means that Ireland fall to two defeats from two in the Nations League and they find themselves bottom of the group. Ukraine, meanwhile, get a win from their first game and find themselves in second.
Ukraine open their Nations League campaign with a 1-0 win over Ireland. The hosts made a fast start and put Ukraine under plenty of pressure, but despite making 10 changes from their disappointing defeat to Wales, the visitors held firm and eventually took control of the game. They could have taken the lead before half-time through Kacharaba's superb volley, only for VAR to rule it out for offside. However, Ukraine weren't to be denied and they took the lead after the interval when Tsygankov's free-kick evaded everyone and nestled in the far corner. Ireland rallied late on and Duffy and Knight both wasted chances to be equalised, but Ukraine held on for an impressive win.
90' + 6' FULL-TIME: REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 0-1 UKRAINE
90' + 5' CLOSE! Ukraine have a chance to finish this game off, but Tsygankov's shot is blocked by O'Shea.
90' + 4' CHANCE! Browne clips in a brilliant cross and Duffy meets it with an acrobatic volley that gets blocked away! It falls to Knight who wastefully blazes a 10-yard volley high and wide. Was that Ireland's final chance?
90' + 2' Ukraine are showing excellent game management as they prevent Ireland from escaping their own half.
90' Five minutes of stoppage time are added on as Ireland continue to throw everything at finding an equaliser.
D. Ignatenko
S. Sydorchuk
88' Sydorchuk heads off for Ignatenko.
88' CHANCE! McClean whips in an inviting free-kick and Duffy gets ahead of his marker to get a free header at goal! However, the defender doesn't get the connection he needs and it drifts narrowly wide!
86' McClean's corner is cleared away at the back post as Ireland continue to push.
84' Ireland have looked much sharper since Obafemi came off the bench. They're piling the pressure on Ukraine and the visitors are clinging on!
82' McClean's corner finds its way through to Obafemi who diverts a weak header wide.
D. Sikan
A. Dovbyk
80' Dovbyk is replaced by Sikan up top.
80' SAVE! Browne jinks past Mykolenko and wins a free-kick in a promising position. Ukraine clear the initial delivery, before Obafemi flicks a cross towards Duffy who thumps a powerful header from eight yards! However, Lunin instinctively tips it onto the bar!
C. Hamilton
C. Ogbene
78' Ogbene heads off with Hamilton coming on.
V. Mykolenko
Yellow Card
78' Mykolenko is booked for a clumsy foul on Browne.
76' Chance! Popov fouls Browne near the touchline. McClean clips in the resulting free-kick and after pinball in the area, Duffy misses his kick with a shooting chance 10 yards out!
74' Ireland are finally beginning to enjoy a little more possession, but it's going to be difficult to break down a resolute Ukraine defence.
O. Pikhalyonok
M. Mudryk
72' Mudryk also heads off with Pikhalyonok coming on instead.
O. Karavaev
T. Kacharaba
72' Ukraine make two changes now. First, Kacharaba makes way for Karavaev after an impressive display at right-back.
A. Browne
C. Christie
69' Christie, meanwhile, is replaced by Browne as Ireland complete their triple subsitution.
J. McClean
E. Stevens
69' Stevens also heads off with McClean taking his place.
M. Obafemi
C. Robinson
69' Robinson is replaced by Obafemi in attack.
66' Cullen's corner is cleared, before Stevens' crossfield pass sails away for a goal kick.
64' The hosts are struggling to get a foothold in this game. Ukraine have enjoyed 63 per cent of possession since the break and they're largely in control right now.
D. O'Shea
J. Egan
62' Egan is replaced by O'Shea following that injury.
61' Ukraine continue to examine the Ireland defence. This time Tsygankov and Kacharaba combine beautifully down the right, before the latter sends in a dangerous cross that Ireland clear after multiple attempts.
59' Egan goes down off the ball, before hobbling gingerly off the pitch. It doesn't look as though he'll be able to continue.
57' Ireland try and regain control with a long spell of possession.
55' Worryingly for the hosts, they've struggled when going behind in the Nations League. Ireland have failed to win in their last seven matches when conceding the opening goal in the Nations League dating back to 6th September 2018 against Wales.
J. Cullen
Yellow Card
54' Cullen is booked after a late challenge on Sydorchuk near the halfway-line.
53' Duffy meets Hendrick's corner at the back post, but he can only direct his header straight at Lunin.
51' Chance! Dovbyk outmuscles Duffy and finds himself with plenty of space on the edge of the box! The striker fails to keep his composure though and rifles a shot straight at Collins.
49' Well, Ukraine have a deserved lead. Tsygankov makes an immediate impact from the bench and Ireland will be concerned that their poor form will be continuing.
V. Tsygankov
Goal
47' GOALLL! TSYGANKOV! 1-0. Ukraine take the lead. Tsygankov bends a free-kick from the touchline and although it's intended as a cross, it's missed by everyone and it arcs perfectly beyond Kelleher and into the far corner!
47' Chance! Ogbene does brilliantly to get to the byline and he keeps his composure before cutting it back to Knight! However, the midfielder's eight-yard shot is blocked by Syrota.
V. Tsygankov
O. Zubkov
46' Zubkov is replaced by Tsygankov in attack.
46' Ireland kick off the second half.
Ireland managed just 40 per cent possession in the first half, highlighting Ukraine's clear control over this game. Although the hosts were a threat on the break, they'd have expected more time on the ball as the home side.
It's 0-0 at half-time. Ireland made a bright start and Ogbene and Robinson looked dangerous as the hosts took the game to Ukraine. However, the visitors - who understandably looked rusty after 10 changes - grew into the game. Ukraine began to create plenty of shooting chances and they thought they had the lead when Kacharaba superbly volleyed in from 20 yards. However, VAR intervened to rule out the goal for offside, ensuring that it's 0-0 going into the break.
45' + 4' HALF-TIME: REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 0-0 UKRAINE
45' + 3' Shaparenko shimmies past Hendrick before drilling a 20-yard strike straight at Kelleher.
45' + 1' Three minutes of stoppage time are added on.
44' Ukraine work a clever short corner out to Mykolenko who lashes a fierce 25-yard effort that deflects behind for another corner. The resulting set-piece is bravely cleared by Egan at the back post.
42' Shaparenko requires treatment following an upper leg injury, but he should be okay to continue.
40' Well, Ireland have a reprieve, but they'll know that they need to improve quickly to get a result in this game.
38' VAR rules out a Ukrainian goal! Dovbyk gets in behind the Ireland defence and pulls it back to Kacharaba, who lashes a stunning volley beyond Kelleher and into the top corner from 20 yards! However, a VAR check reveals that Dovbyk was offside during the build-up, and the goal won't stand!
35' Ireland howl for a penalty! Hendrick releases Robinson in behind the defence with Bondar in pursuit! There's a tangle of legs between the two players inside the box and Robinson goes down - however, the referee and VAR remain unmoved. There wasn't quite enough in that challenge from Bondar to warrant a penalty.
33' Ireland started brightly, but since the opening minutes, Ukraine have taken control. The hosts have been reduced to picking their moments on the break.
31' Sydorchuk shots from distance again, but it's claimed at the first attempt by a relaxed Kelleher.
29' Dovbyk holds it up well up top, before laying it off to Sydorchuk. The Ukrainian captain takes a touch before hammering a 25-yard strike against Egan.
27' Ireland settle the game down with a long spell of defensive possession.
25' Ukraine have produced five shots so far, but none of these have translated into a shot on target.
23' Ukraine have snatched at their opportunities so far today. This time Dovbyk has plenty of options available but opts to hit a speculative 25-yard effort that rolls harmlessly wide.
21' Ogbene leads a counter-attack for the hosts and drives to the edge of the box before hitting a shot straight at Bondar.
18' Collins fails to cut out Shaparenko's pass, allowing Mudryk to jink into the box. The attacker searches for Dovbyk with an intricate throughball but it trickles behind.
16' Mykolenko hammers a 25-yard effort well wide.
14' The visitors are starting to settle. A patient attack ends with Mykolenko crossing for Shaparenko who heads well wide.
12' Ukraine make a rare foray forward that ends with Mudryk scampering past Hendrick before blasting a 25-yard strike high and wide.
10' Save! Knight swivels 30 yards from goal and drives into the space before lashing a vicious shot from distance that Lunin parries behind. The resulting corner amounts to nothing.
8' The hosts have started with real intensity so far: they've pressed Ukraine high up the pitch, forcing plenty of mistakes and will be looking to make this early advantage count.
6' Ireland continue their bright start as Ogbene fires in a low cross that Bondar nervously hacks behind. The resulting corner amounts to nothing.
4' Christie gets to the byline and hammers in a low cross that Lunin does well to pounce upon before Robinson.
2' Ireland make a positive start as Knight drives through the centre of the pitch, before almost slotting Robinson through on goal! However, Popov steps across to intercept the throughball.
1' Ukraine kick off the first half.
The players are emerging from the tunnel and kick off is just seconds away!
Ireland have been in desperately poor form of late, and it’d be surprising if they turned it around today. They’ve won just two of their last 20 competitive matches (D10 L8), with both of those victories coming away from home. Ireland have gone nine competitive matches without winning at home, never going on a longer such run in their history.
Ukraine refresh their side with 10 changes. The main news is that Zinchenko takes a break on the bench, while star striker Yaremchuk is replaced by Dovbyk.
Ireland make two changes following the defeat to Armenia: Christie comes in for Coleman and Knight replaces Parrott.
SUBS: Mykola Matvyenko, Illia Zabarnyi, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Ruslan Malinovskiy, Andriy Pyatov, Oleksandr Karavaev, Eduard Sobol, Oleksandr Pikhalyonok, Dmytro Riznky, Danylo Ignatenko, Viktor Tsygankov, Danylo Sikan.
SUBS: Mark Travers, Dara O'Shea, Festy Ebosele, Michael Obafemi, Alan Browne, Troy Parrott, CJ Hamilton, James Talbot, James McClean, Will Keane, Jayson Molumby, Conor Hourihane.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (3-4-2-1): Caoimhin Kelleher; Nathan Collins, Shane Duffy, John Egan; Cyrus Christie, Jeff Hendrick, Josh Cullen, Enda Stevens; Chiedozie Ogbene, Jason Knight; Callum Robinson.
Ukraine, meanwhile, arrive in Ireland following a heart-breaking 1-0 defeat to Wales in their World Cup playoff final. They’ll be looking to shake off their disappointment quickly and kick off their Nations League campaign with three points today.
Hello and welcome to live commentary of this UEFA Nations League B Group 1 fixture between the Republic of Ireland and Ukraine. Ireland enter this one off the back of a deeply disappointing defeat to Armenia in their opening Nations League game: Stephen Kenny’s side will be looking to put things right with a win today.
Commentary