Revenge on the favorite: Tyukavin's goal helped Russia beat Spain in the selection for the European Youth Championship

The youth team of Russia on Tuesday played at the Arena Khimki the last match of this year's qualifying round of the European Championship-2023.

The wards of Mikhail Galaktionov had to again meet with Spain, a meeting with which the qualification began for the national team.

In the first confrontation, it was not possible to defeat the opponent - the domestic team lost - 1: 4.

After a failure in the away game, the Russians issued a winning streak of four matches, not conceding a single goal in them.

On Friday, with a score of 3: 0, strong Slovakia was defeated at home, which gave positive emotions before the most important meeting with the leader. 

According to head coach Mikhail Galaktionov, his players have recently improved the quality of the game, and the composition of the team has become more balanced, a skeleton has appeared in it.

“It is clear that there is competition as well.

Guys who perform well in clubs are added.

Therefore, we can say that the core of the team has settled down, certain interactions have begun to play enough.

This cannot but rejoice, ”the mentor said in an interview with the RFU press service.

The Spaniards also did not lose points in the current qualifying cycle and approached the second meeting with the national team with 15 points in the asset.

However, Luis de la Fuente's followers did not come to Russia in the optimal composition.

Compared to the first game, Villarreal midfielder Eremi Pino was absent due to injury.

However, even without him, the guests had someone to score: Anderlecht's defender Sergi Gomez managed to score four times in the Euro qualifier, and Braga's forward Abel Ruiz scored a double in the last match with Malta.

The main problem for the coaching staff of the Russians was the disqualification of Ruslan Litvinov.

The midfielder in the game with Slovakia received a second yellow card.

However, even without one of the leaders, the domestic team looked very good on Tuesday.

In the starting lineup for the match with the main rival in the group, as expected, the top scorer of the RPL at the moment, Hamid Agalarov, appeared.

The striker scored 11 goals in 14 matches of the national championship, and scored four times for the national team.

In the game against Spain, the Ufa striker also tried to act actively and at the beginning of the first half shot well against Julen Ahirresabala's goal, but the opponent's goalkeeper controlled the situation.

Much more dangerous was Konstantin Maradishvili's shot in the 24th minute: Nail Umyarov once again fought for the ball and made a pass into the penalty area.

The Lokomotiv midfielder went one-on-one with the goalkeeper and shot out of the fight, but the goalkeeper was there again.

After this moment, the hosts seized the initiative.

And if at the beginning of the meeting the guests had attacks, for example, Maxim Borisko saved after Abel Ruiz's shot, then at the end of the half the Spaniards could not come up with anything interesting.

Luis de la Fuente was dissatisfied with the actions of his players and after the break made a double substitution.

However, this did not significantly affect the game: the hosts continued to put pressure on.

Agalarov could have distinguished himself again: there was a throw behind the defenders, the forward was one on one with the goalkeeper and gently threw him, but hit the crossbar.

Then Daniil Khlusevich jumped out to a rendezvous with the goalkeeper, but missed the target.

But on the third attempt, the Russians still distinguished themselves.

After half an hour of the meeting, striker Konstantin Tyukavin, who entered the field instead of Agalarov, boldly broke through the center and fired hard into the bottom corner from afar.

Ahirresabala touched the ball, but could not reflect it - 1: 0.

The opponent had no choice but to move forward even more actively, which was quite satisfactory for the Russians, who tried to catch the guests on counterattacks and could increase the advantage several times.

The Spaniards were in control of the ball, but the hosts defended competently, not giving the opportunity to aim at Borisco's goal.

The meeting ended with a desperate shot by Juan Miranda above the gate almost from the center of the field.

The Russian national team won the most important victory in the qualifying round of the European Championship-2023 and caught up with the Spaniards in the number of points.

Next year Galaktionov's team will play with Malta, Northern Ireland, Lithuania and Slovakia.