MARIBOR, Slovenia — Ukraine beat Slovenia 3-1 on aggregate to qualify for the European Championship next year, after a 1-1 draw on Tuesday.
It is the first time Ukraine has successfully qualified for a European Championship, although it received an automatic place as co-host nation in 2012.
Captain Bostjan Cesar fired up Slovenian hopes when he scored from a close-range header in the 11th minute off Valter Birsa’s cross.
Both goalkeepers put in strong performances to keep the game close until the end, with Ukraine’s Andriy Pyatov making a fine one-handed save in the 74th to deny Cesar a second goal, and equalizer on aggregate.
With the final attack of the game deep into stoppage time, Andriy Yarmolenko made sure of qualification for Ukraine with a cool finish on the counterattack.