Alexey Gutsulyak thanked all the fans and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Ukrainian national team midfielder Oleksiy Gutsulyak commented on the strong-willed victory over Belgium in the first match of the playoffs for the right to play in the elite division of the next Nations League.
The 27-year-old footballer, who represents Zhytomyr's Polesie at the club level, spoke about his debut goal for the national team. He decided to dedicate it to the fans and the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“Many thanks to all the fans for their support, thanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In such a difficult moment, I think we did everything we could today. Emotions are overwhelming, this is my first goal for the national team – I want to dedicate it to all the fans, all our fighters. Let's hold on, Ukraine! I think we will win and everything will be fine with us.
Emotions were running high, it was tough. The main thing is that the team won, that they managed to turn the game around. We came on as substitutes and turned the game around. Emotions are overwhelming. There is a return match ahead, we can’t relax. We need to prepare, recover. The return match will be even tougher than today’s.
This team and the team for Euro 2024? I think we just got into the right frame of mind and understand that we need to win in such a difficult moment and do everything possible,” Gutsulyak said in a comment to MEGOGO.
Gutsulyak came on as a substitute in the 62nd minute instead of Roman Yaremchuk, and four minutes later he equalized the score in the match. After that, our team scored twice more and eventually won with a score of 3:1.
Earlier it was reported that the head coach of the “blue-yellows” Serhiy Rebrov named the turning point of the Ukraine-Belgium match.
The return match between the teams on Sunday, March 23, will be hosted by the Belgian city of Genk. The game will start at 21:45 Kyiv time.
The winner of the two-match confrontation between Ukraine and Belgium will receive a place in the most prestigious Division A of the League of Nations. The losing team will play the next tournament in Division B.