The All Whites' seven-match winning streak came to an end in their second match in the Canadian Shield tournament at Toronto's BDO Field on June 10, Ukraine overcoming the Oceania champions 2-1 in front of 18489 spectators. Having been beaten by tournament hosts Canada in their opening game, and knowing New Zealand had upset Ivory Coast in the other match in the four-team, two-round tournament, the Ukrainians were well aware that nothing less than victory would serve their cause in this encounter, and set out their stall accordingly. At the same time, Darren Bazeley's charges knew that at least a draw in this match would afford them a great chance of acquiring some rare silverware for New Zealand Football's trophy cabinet, as they continue their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Finals, which Canada is hosting in conjunction with Mexico and the USA. Both teams enjoyed spells of possession and promising openings inside the first ten minutes, without threatening their opponent's goal. But on the quarter hour mark, Ukraine fired the first shot in anger, Vladislav Kabalev and Oleksandr Pikhalyonok combining to pick out Oleksii Hutsulyak on the far post, from where he directed an angled header across goal. It initially wrong-footed Max Crocombe, who was covering his near post, but the 'keeper pulled off a fabulous fingertip save to preserve parity on the scoreboard. Ukraine, however, had had a sniff, and threatened again six minutes later. This time, Hutsulyak was the catalyst, engineering space on the right for a cross to the far post where fullback Bogdan Mykhaylichenko was flying in to meet it. He directed his header inside, but Finn Surman, carrying on from where he left off against Cote D'Ivoire, stepped in to head clear before Oleksandr Zubkov could capitalise on his team-mate's endeavours. Surman's headed clearance sparked a counter-attack which culminated in Sarpreet Singh creating an opening on the right from where he whipped a cross into the goalmouth, just beyond the incoming Matt Garbett. Ben Waine, arriving on cue on the far post, was prevented from turning the ball home by the anticipation of Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin. On the half-hour, the European side threatened again, this time via the combination play of Oleksandr Tymchyk and Yevhen Cheberko, whose cross-shot is parried by Crocombe to the edge of the goal area. Kabalev's eyes instantly light up - the opening goal is his for the taking - but he somehow skies a glorious chance from six yards. 0-0 it remains. Five minutes before half-time, Crocombe was right behind a swerving twenty-five yarder from Yehor Nazaryna, the last shot in anger in a half in which Ukraine held the upper hand, but saw the All Whites hold their own, even though they found themselves penned in their own half of the pitch for long stretches of the half. Ukraine needed to make better use of the possession they were enjoying, and set about doing so from the outset of the second half. Crocombe was right behind Zubkov's 47th minute shot following a free-kick, but was deceived by the striker's delicious cross three minutes later, only to be bailed out by Surman and Tyler Bindon as the duo thwarted the efforts of Hutsulyak and Kabalev to get on the end of Zubkov's delivery. Ukraine got the breakthrough their efforts merited in the 54th minute. Illia Zabarnyi switched play to Mykhaylichenko, steaming down the left, and the flying fullback duly delivered a low cross which Hutsulyak controlled before rifling between Crocombe and his near post from the edge of the penalty area.

Within two minutes, the All Whites went close to levelling the scores. Joe Bell and Liberato Cacace worked a one-two from a free-kick, with Bell's angled ball into the penalty area being headed across the box by Michael Boxall. Marko Stamenic just failed to make contact with an attempted bicycle kick, the ball dropping to Singh, who saw his shot blocked. Ukraine counter-attacked instantly, Mykola Mykhailenko sending a shot sizzling over the bar after Mykhaylichenko and Nazaryna had led their opponents a merry dance downfield. But the All Whites' response was brilliant, making it 1-1 in the 59th minute. They earned a corner from the next attack, and Cacace's delivery to the far post was headed inside by Boxall to Stamenic, whose four-yard header left Lunin beaten all ends up and set up a stirring final half-hour to the game. Alas for the All Whites, it was largely dominated by their European opponents, and after Crocombe had denied substitute Roman Yaremchuk's close-range effort in the 69th minute, the pressure told six minutes later as Ukraine regained the lead. It was their bench strength which made the difference. On this occasion, the fresh legs of Oleksandr Martyniuk powered down the left before delivering a cross which rewarded the well-timed run from midfield of fellow newcomer Oleksandr Zinchenko. With his first touch - he had entered the fray seconds earlier - he rifled home the match-winning goal from twelve yards. After Zinchenko fired past the post following a sweeping five-man move, Ukraine changed tactics for the final ten minutes and became far more physical in their approach, in complete contrast to the spirit in which the match had been played up to this point. Their new style swiftly riled their opponents, and a gathering of the clans wasn't far away. Bell was taken out from behind by Viktor Tsygankov in the 83rd minute, and retaliated, giving referee Carly Shaw-Maclaren a decision to make, given the Kiwi had already been booked. The offender joined Bell in being shown the yellow card, but a second one wasn't forthcoming for the combative defensive midfielder, much to coach Darren Bazeley's relief. The All Whites piled on the pressure for a late equaliser, but came up short. Boxall just failed to make contact with a teasing cross from Francis de Vries, while a low drive from Cacace was smothered by Lunin after his opposite number, Crocombe, had hoisted a stoppage time free-kick into the goalmouth. Ukraine's win drew them level with the All Whites in the tournament, with the Kiwis finishing second on goal difference. Canada won the inaugural Canadian Shield, a result of a scoreless draw with Ivory Coast in the final game of the competition, with the African team winning a penalty shoot-out - it wouldn't be North America without a winner on the day! (Lord knows how the locals will cope with draws in the groups phase of next year's World Cup Finals!) Ukraine:     Lunin; Tymchyk (booked, 89), Zabarnyi, Cheberko (Talovierov, 66), Mykhaylichenko (Martyniuk, 66); Mykhailenko (Tsygankov, 74 (booked, 83)), Pikhalyonok (Shaparenko, 86), Nazaryna; Zubkov (Zinchenko, 74), Hutsulyak, Kabaiev (Yaremchuk, 66 (booked, 90)) All Whites:     Crocombe; Bindon (booked, 73 (de Vries, 81)), Surman, Boxall (booked, 90), Cacace; Singh (Rufer, 73), Bell, Stamenic (booked, 59 (Elliot, 81)); Just (Wood, 81), Waine (Barbarouses, 66), Garbett (Old, 66) Referee:     Carly Shaw-Maclaren (Canada)