Serbia and Ukraine share Group B spoils

Holders Serbia recovered from an early shock to salvage a point against Ukraine in the opening game of UEFA European Under-19 Championship Group B.

• Burda (1) and Maksimović (7) swap early goals in Gyor
• Serbia strike woodwork twice in closing stages
• Ukraine play Bulgaria on Tuesday; Serbia meet Germany

Ukraine were in front inside the first minute through Mykyta Burda but Nemanja Maksimović swiftly levelled and Serbia largely held the upper hand thereafter. They were unable to break through, however, substitutes Luka Jović and Danilo Pantić both striking the woodwork in the final 20 minutes,

Ukraine coach Oleksandr Petrakov had said his last words to the players would be "good luck", and fortune was on their side before 60 seconds had elapsed. Viktor Kovalenko provided the corner from the left and Burda was left unmarked in front of goal to head in.

Mykyta Burda heads the opener©Sportsfile

Serbia responded like champions, and were back on terms within six minutes. Andrija Živković did the hard work down the right, and Maksimović got ahead of his marker to prod in a far-post volley. Veljko Paunović's side created the better chances throughout the remainder of the first half, Mijat Gačinović and Živković narrowly missing the target from distance and Bogdan Sarnavskiy saving from Veljko Simić at his near post.

The goalkeeper blocked from the same player just past the hour after Simić had sprinted away down the right, and that heralded Serbia's final push. Jović's fierce volley struck the right-hand post with Sarnavskiy beaten, before Pantić's effort came back off the other upright moments later. That suggested Serbia's luck was out, and so it proved.