Tankovskiy the hero as Ukraine defeat Bulgaria

Ukraine snatched a crucial three points thanks to Vyacheslav Tankovskiy's 89th-minute effort against Bulgaria to move up to second in UEFA European Under-19 Championship Group B.

• Vutov penalty (28) saved by Ukraine captain Sarnavskiy
• Tankovskiy scores (89) after Kharatin's spot-kick miss
• Ukraine meet Germany on Friday; Bulgaria v Serbia

Ukraine captain Bogdan Sarnavskiy ensured the scoresheet was blank at the interval, producing a fine stop to keep out Antonio Vutov's 28th-minute penalty. That proved crucial with a minute to go as Artem Biesiedin was felled by Miki Orachev – although Ihor Kharatin's spot kick came back off the upright, substitute Tankovskiy was on hand to tap in.

Each knowing a win would move them second in the section, both teams started cautiously in teeming rain, with Bulgaria shading the early exchanges. Radoslav Tsonev's free-kick was deflected behind while Vutov turned cleverly on the edge of the area but failed to keep his curling shot down.

The Bulgaria No11 would have an even better opening after Andriy Markovych tripped Nikola Kolev inside the area, yet Sarnavskiy sprang to his left to touch the attempt behind at full stretch. Although Kolev went close again, heading a metre wide, Ukraine might have engineered the breakthrough when Biesiedin forced his way through the Bulgaria defence. Taking a leaf out of his opposite number's book, Aleksandar Lyubenov was smartly out to block.

Kharatin went close for Ukraine just before the hour as the search for the opening goal continued, while at the other end Tsonev's driven effort was punched aside by the impressive Sarnavskiy. A fine night from the goalkeeper was rewarded at the other end by Tankovskiy's late clincher, securing a win that leaves Ukraine second in the section behind Germany. 

Oleksandr Petrakov, Ukraine coach
Both teams were equal in terms of possession and all other stats, so I have to admit we were a bit lucky in the end. We know Bulgaria very well after playing a friendly against them in March. We lost that game 1-0 so I'm very happy we were able to win today in a rematch. I'm very happy for Tankovskiy. He was able to redeem himself after not playing very well on Saturday. We had a talk after that match. Today he really wanted to play and I gave him an opportunity. I'm glad he took his chance really well.

Aleksandar Dimitrov, Bulgaria coach
It's really tough. I respect Ukraine and can congratulate them for the win, but I think we won in every area except for the result, and the result is what matters in the end. I'm happy with how we played; apart from all the chances we missed, everything else was fine. Tonight we saw again that football is not a logical game. The better team doesn't always win, without showing any disrespect to Ukraine for the way they played.