Had Steven Gerrard‘s tackle on Levgenii Konoplianka come a half second sooner than it did, there wouldn’t be a raging debate on the correct spelling of the Ukrainian’s name.
But the England captain couldn’t close down Konoplianka before he unleashed a rocket that found the back of the England goal.
Konoplianka scored the first goal in England’s 1-1 draw with Ukraine on Tuesaday, and it was a thing of beauty.
The 22-year-old winger cut inside from his position on the left, took two touches with his right foot to free himself of Gerrard and hit a shot that went to the only place England goalkeeper Joe Hart could not reach it: the top, far corner.
The strike would have made him a national hero had Ukraine been able to hold on for the win. But England scored thanks to a late Frank Lampard penalty kick to deny Ukraine a famous victory at Wembley Stadium.
The result marks a good start for Ukraine, but slows England’s march to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The two teams sit third and fourth respectively in Group H of UEFA qualifying.
We must ask where Konoplianka, who some call “the Ukrainian Messi,” was when Ukraine limped out of Euro 2012 in the group stage. The world could have used at least a glimpse of the special talent, and he may have helped the team reach the knockout rounds.
Watch Konoplianka’s goal in the video below.
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