Ukraine knew victory was a must to keep their World Cup hopes alive via their group finish, with Iceland knowing a draw would be enough.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, then, this resulted in a somewhat cagey first half with neither team wanting to overcommit too early.
It was Ukraine who created the first opportunity with three minutes on the clock when Oleksandr Zubkov prodded a left-footed effort from the left side of the area just wide of the post.
The majority of the first period saw a battle for supremacy, but the Blue and Yellow certainly shaded it in terms of chances.
With the half-hour mark approaching, Viktor Tysgankov saw his left-footed effort from just outside the area crash off the crossbar before Vladysav Vanat’s improvised flick from close range five minutes before the interval didn’t have enough power to trouble Elias Olafsson, with Iceland the happier of the two sides at half-time as they continued to frustrate Ukraine.
With 11 of Ukraine’s previous 15 goals coming after half-time, their supporters would have expected their team to come out of the traps fast after the restart, but it was the visitors who created the first opportunity of the second half when Brynjolfur Willumsson’s header from a free-kick was well saved at point-blank range by Anatoliy Trubin.
Just after the hour mark, Zubkov had a second opportunity to find the net when a loose ball fell into his path just outside the area, with his arrowing shot within reach of Olafsson, who was able to push it away to safety.
Ukraine have suffered many near-misses in recent years, but they ensured this game wouldn’t be another as a corner was glanced on to an unmarked Zubkov at the back post, and the winger headed home to spark wild scenes of celebration.
There was still time for Iceland to find a goal which would have secured a play-off spot, but when Oleksii Gutsuliak’s effort took a deflection to wrong-foot Olafsson, their quest for a second appearance at the finals ended in cruel fashion after an impressive group stage, with the same opponent having denied them a place at EURO 2024 exactly 600 days ago.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Oleksandr Zubkov (Ukraine)