'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAb/2gAIAQEAAAAAkC//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAF/9oACAECEAAAABf/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC/9oACAEDEAAAAB//xAAhEAABBAEDBQAAAAAAAAAAAAACAQQREgMABQYTISKB0f/aAAgBAQABPwBhw/b1yFicOlEBovXAJGFOFSsTNfL3Gj4ZjstHres9pE/mv//EABoRAAEFAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAgMFEjH/2gAIAQIBAT8AFlM066v/xAAVEQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAv/aAAgBAwEBPwCn/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Ukraine confirmed top spot in Group B of the Euro 2020 qualifiers and consequently booked their ticket to the tournament proper next year.
First-half goals from Roman Yaremchuk and Andriy Yarmolenko put the hosts in the ascendancy at the break and even though they were reduced to ten men in the 70th minute with Ronaldo halving the deficit from the spot, they still held on for all three points.
The defeat leaves Portugal in a dicey situation, as they are just one point clear of Serbia in third-place with two rounds of matches and one qualification spot left.
Portugal entered the game as slight favorites owing to the superiority of their players, but Ukraine ultimately did enough to upset the pre-match analysis. Here, we shall be highlighting three reasons why Portugal fell to a defeat in Kyiv.
#3 Fernando Santos' questionable decisions
Fernando Santos deserves immense praise for his handling of the Portuguese national team ever since his appointment in September 2014.
Under the 65-year-old's management, Portugal have earned a reputation of being an astutely solid team and he masterminded their first triumph on the international scene at Euro 2016 and followed that up with another victory at the inaugural edition of the UEFA Nations League.
The former Greece manager has been known to be a pragmatic coach, however, in the game against Ukraine, he took some risks in his starting lineup that backfired spectacularly.
He elected to leave Joao Felix on the bench, starting Goncalo Guedes in his stead and the folly in this decision was exposed when the Valencia man was brought off at half-time having made just 32 touches of the ball.
Furthermore, Santos left out Bruno Fernandes who has been unplayable this season for Sporting Lisbon in the Primeira Liga.
In the absence of the pair, Portugal struggled for creativity in a first-half that was utterly dominated by Ukraine and although they were ultimately brought on, the damage had been done.
The difference between Portugal's lackadaisical first-half display and the second was evident, begging the question as to why Santos left out two of his most creative players from the start and while the risk might have paid off on another day, Ukraine's tactical solidity ensured that Portugal were made to pay for the questionable tactics of their manager.
#2 Andriy Pyatov was in inspired form
While Portugal might have been insipid in the first-half, they upped the ante considerably after the break thanks to the changes made by Fernando Santos.
With Ukraine holding a two-goal advantage, Andriy Shevchenko understandably instructed his players to sit back and hold on for the requisite one point to ensure their qualification.
The hosts were content to let Portugal have all the possession and given the quality of attacking players within the Portuguese ranks, this was a recipe for disaster.
Shot after shot were peppered at the Ukrainian goal, but their defense remained resolute, with goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov putting in a masterclass performance.
The legendary 35-year-old had a running battle with Cristiano Ronaldo on what was his 89th cap and even though the Juventus star ultimately got the better of him with a 72nd-minute penalty, it took nothing away from what was a five-star display.
In total, Portugal had 24 shots on the Ukrainian goal, forcing Pyatov into nine saves (with five of those coming from the boots of Ronaldo).
While Ukraine deserve immense praise for their doggedness against Portugal even after going down to ten men, the difference between victory and defeat on the night was down to the performance of their goalkeeper.
#1 Ukraine have been in excellent form at home
Ukraine came into the fixture top of Group B and a major reason for their top spot was down to their impressive home form.
The Eastern Europeans have not lost in a competitive fixture at home since a 2-0 reversal to Croatia in a World Cup qualifying game in October 2017 and in that time, they have won all five games at home spanning the Nations League and European Qualifiers, scoring 10 goals and conceding none.
It has been over two years since Ukraine last tasted defeat at home and given the impressiveness of their run, Portugal always had their work cut out for them.
A boisterous Kyiv Olympic stadium was packed to the rafters with 70,000 fans expectant of victory and this gave the stadium a rocking atmosphere which was no doubt influenced by the near-invincibility that Ukraine have at home.
Once the hosts went ahead inside the first six minutes of the fixture, it was almost certain where the result was going and although Cristiano Ronaldo became the first man in over two years to score past Pyatov, he was powerless to stop Portugal from becoming the latest victims to fall against Ukraine at home.
