Uruguay consign Ukraine to defeat

Ukraine twice took the lead against Uruguay in Kharkiv, but ultimately the UEFA EURO 2012 co-hosts came to grief against the side that reached last summer's FIFA World Cup semi-finals.

Andriy Yarmolenko put Ukraine ahead inside 15 seconds as Oleh Blokhin's side made an enterprising start, but Álvaro González levelled from distance. Yevhen Konoplyanka raised the ante again with a second goal for the home side, but they were to be undone in the closing stages with Luis Suárez setting up Diego Lugano, and then Abel Hernández to win the game for Uruguay.

Konoplyanka and Marko Dević combined to set up Yarmolenko for a quick-fire opener, and while Uruguay poured forward in search of a reply, it almost strengthened Ukraine's hand. Andriy Voronin was spearheading a number of dangerous moves on the break, and setting up Yarmolenko for a fine chance later in the half which Fernando Muslera did well to block.

Uruguay continued to menace, though. Suárez hit the post with one effort, and with their next attack, the South American side equalised through Álvaro González's spectacular shot four minutes before the break. However, there was time before the interval for Ukraine to strike back, Yarmolenko delivering the ball for Konoplyanka to fire under Muslera's crossbar.

Sensing more glory, Ukraine pressed after the interval, with the impressive Muslera fending away shots from Voronin and Dević. Olexiy Gay missed the target with another effort, but the tables then turned. Diego Lugano profited from Suárez's free-kick to level, and then set up Abel Hernández as Ukraine lost a third successive game to a late goal. They will look to improve on that as they meet the Czech Republic in Prague on Tuesday.