Ukraine through despite draw

Ukraine are through to the UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-offs as qualifying Group 8 winners despite losing a two-goal lead to France.

Victory would have sent Ukraine through regardless of results elsewhere and that seemed secure when Bohdan Butko and Yaroslav Rakitskiy struck in a five-minute spell early in the second period. Djamel Bakar and Emmanuel Rivière drew the game level but as Belgium drew 2-2 in Slovenia, Ukraine cannot be overtaken by Belgium or France due to head-to-head results.

Yevhen Konoplyanka set up the first goal in the 54th minute, finding Butko who burst into the penalty area and shot past Johann Carrasso. The goalkeeper was beaten again four minutes later, Roman Zozulya being fouled by Eliaquim Mangala and Rakitskiy converting the resulting penalty.

Pavlo Iakovenko's side would have moved two points clear in the section with one game remaining had they preserved their advantage, but four minutes after Rakitskiy's spot kick Emmanuel Rivière's low right-wing cross was turned in first time by Djamel Bakar. It was 2-2 in the 74th minute with a role reversal of the first French goal, Rivière heading in Bakar's corner to earn the visitors a point but they are now out as they cannot finish above third place.