CARDIFF, Wales (AP) - Ukraine’s players wept in the rain while applauding their dejected supporters after missing out on qualifying for the World Cup by losing 1-0 to Wales in Europe’s last playoff for the FIFA soccer showpiece.
The agonizing moment in a tight game came in the 34th minute when Andriy Yarmolenko inadvertently headed the ball into his own net while trying to clear Wales captain Gareth Bale’s free kick.
While Wales heads to a first World Cup in 64 years — opening against the USMNT in November — this was a game too far for Ukraine’s emotionally charged mission of qualifying for Qatar while remaining under war.
“We did everything that we could,” coach Oleksandr Petrakov said through a translator,” but I really want the people of Ukraine to remember our team’s efforts.”
Petrakov’s priority, once the World Cup dream had been extinguished, was ensuring the suffering at home is not forgotten by the world.