Penicková pops up to save Czechs

Ukraine registered their first point in UEFA European Women's Championship qualifying Group 4 but were denied maximum points when Blanka Penicková equalised seven minutes from time in Lutsk.
 
Previous victories
The Ukrainians enjoyed the majority of possession but failed to display the clinical finishing which brought them 4-1 and 3-2 victories against the same opponents in qualifying for the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup. They did take the lead, however, when the 17-year-old Darja Apanaschenko scored her first goal for Ukraine's senior team in the 34th minute.

Crowd silenced
Apanaschenko has recently graduated from the Under-19 side along with some other talented youngsters and Ukraine looked more sprightly for their youthful emphasis after losing 5-1 to Scotland last time out. Yet all their endeavour was undone in the 84th minute when Penicková silenced the 3,000 crowd.

Germany next
Ukraine coach Mykola Lytvyn said: "Football is not only creating chances but achieving a result. We did not take on our chances and allowed them to score an unlikely goal on top of that." Ukraine will play their fifth qualifying match on 9 August against Germany, the Czechs' second opponents later that month.