REPORT | Ireland MU16 3-1 Ukraine MU16

FAI MEN’S UNDER 16S: 3-1 victory over Ukraine in Slovakia earlier today.

Ireland Men's Under-16s

Three second-half goals from Ireland saw them keep up their winning start to the UEFA Development Tournament with a 3-1 win over Ukraine in Slovakia today.

Cork City’s Jaden Umeh, St.Patrick’s Athletic’s Michael Noonan and Malaga’s Aaron Ochoa Moloney earned Ireland their second win in two days.

Ireland came into the game looking to follow up on their 4-2 victory over Latvia on Wednesday. Head Coach Paul Osam made eight changes to the starting line-up from that win as he looked to utilise the squad.

And his side were on top for the majority of the first-half. Umeh had a great chance when he was left unmarked at the backpost but his header just went wide. Noonan had an opportunity when he was put in one-on-one with the goalkeeper but could only fire straight at Oleksandr Petrenko.

Despite being the dominant side, it was Ukraine who opened the scoring. A quick break down the left saw a cross played to the back post, from Dynamo Kyiv’s Bohdan Redushko was picked-out on the edge of the box and he fired past Noah Douglas for 1-0.

Determined to get back into the game after the break, Ireland had a glorious chance through James Roche. The Shamrock Rovers’ centre back saw his header from a corner cleared away from underneath the crossbar, it looked to be over the line but it wasn’t given.

However Ireland didn’t have long to wait for an equaliser. Sean Moore saw his effort saved but the rebound fell to Umeh to fire home in the 60th minute. And the turnaround was complete in the 78th minute when Noonan put Ireland ahead. Brody Lee delivered a great cross for William Martin who cushioned the ball into the path of Noonan to finish.

Three minutes later it was 3-1. Daniel Ring played in a pass for Ochoa Moloney to score his first goal for Ireland.

Ireland will finish off the tournament, and their international season, when they face the hosts Slovakia on Monday morning.

Ireland: Douglas, Mare (Ring, 79), Coffey, Roche, Moore (C) (Martin, 63), O’Donnell, Ochoa Moloney (Lynskey, 88), McCarthy, Fitzgerald (Lee, 63), Noonan (Egan, 79), Umeh (Vodo, 63)

Ukraine: Petrenko, Sheleketa, Tretiak, Soroka, Dihitiar (C), Iesin, Dragan, Stepanov, Redushko, Rybak. Substitutes: Voloshyn, Varyvoda, Martyuk, Harmash, Ilchenko, Strilchuk, Lykholit, Ozymai, Dobrelia, Ukhan

Referee: Martin Krikošik (Slovkia)

UEFA Development Tournament fixtures/results (all times are Irish time)
 
Wednesday, May 10 |Ireland 4-2 Latvia
Friday, May 12 | Ireland 3-1 Ukraine
Monday, May 15 | Slovakia v Ireland, NTC Senec, Slovakia, KO 10am