Honours even in Kriens

By Andrew Haslam at Kleinfeld stadium

Belgium and Ukraine got their UEFA European Under-19 Championship campaigns off to a solid start as an even opening Group A game in Kriens ended goalless.

Last-gasp chance
Belgium came closest to snatching all three points in the closing seconds of the match, but Faris Haroun could only shoot straight at goalkeeper Bohdan Shust from inside the penalty area and the chance was gone. Belgium next play hosts Switzerland on Thurday, while holders Italy are coming up for the Ukrainians. The Swiss drew 1-1 with Italy in today's other game in the section.

Attacking trident
As promised, Belgium coach Marc van Geersom fielded an attacking 4-3-3 lineup, with Luwamo Garcia, Michael Lacroix and Stijn Desmet forming the forward trident. The opposition strikeforce, meanwhile, was spearheaded by Artem Milevskyy, who was granted special dispensation from FIFA to play for Ukraine having previously represented Belarus while Oleksandr Aliyev – scorer of six goals in qualifying – lined up in midfield.

Cautious opening
In a picturesque setting in the shadow of the mountains, both sides began cautiously, with Ukraine seeing more of the ball and forcing the Belgians into a more defensive
4-5-1 formation. Konstyantyn Kravtchenko had the first sight of goal after 13 minutes, with Glenn Verbauwhede gathering his awkward bouncing shot at the second attempt.

Quick reactions
The Belgian goalkeeper was in action again nine minutes later, racing off his line to deny Dmtryo Vorobey as the Ukrainian midfield player attempted to latch on to a return pass from Milevskyy. Verbauwhede then turned aside an angled effort from Volodymyr Samborskyy as Ukraine sought to convert their pressure into tangible reward.

Shust save
Stung, Belgium rallied and Wim Raeymaeckers' long-range shot forced Shust into action for the first time, the Ukrainian producing a flying save. Garcia then had a glimpse of the target five minutes before half-time after Shust had punched clear, but dragged his shot wide from the edge of the penalty area following a corner.

Headed miss
Pavlo Yakoveko's team were quicker into their stride after the break, with Kravtchenko heading Samborskyy's right-wing cross wide from in front of goal within a minute of the restart. Any thoughts of Ukrainian dominance proved to be misleading, however, as Garcia's low cross found Haroun in space, but the Belgian midfield player shot over first time from the edge of the area.

Sytnyk speed
Six minutes past the hour, Ukraine could have taken the lead as substitute Oleksandr Sytnyk burst clear down the left with a break of speed that left Belgian defenders trailing in his wake, but could only shoot against the legs of Verbauwhede from the angle.

Belgian pressure
Haroun missed another chance 15 minutes from time as Samborskyy reached a cross before Garcia only to divert the ball to the unmarked Belgian, but again his aim was wayward from in front of goal. It was Belgium who looked the more threatening in the final stages, but ultimately both sides had to be content with a point.