After salvaging a point against Finland with a last-minute goal and losing to Denmark despite attempting 28 shots at the Danish goal, only a win could get a disappointing Netherlands side into the quarter-finals.
For the third match in a row, manager Michael Reiziger changed the midfield trio - PSV's Ryan Flamingo the nod over Youri Regeer and Anass Salah-Eddine in the defensive midfield spot. This gave Middlesbrough's Rav van den Berg a spot in the heart of the Dutch defence and Ian Maatsen a chance to return to the left-back spot. Stoke City winger Million Manhoef returned to the starting XI and started alongside FC Groningen striker Thom van Bergen, who got the nod over Noah Ohio.
A dull start to the match saw Oranje get loose around the 30-minute mark and create chances for Million Manhoef, but the rapid winger failed to see an open Ruben van Bommel and hit the side netting instead.
Crucial Van Bergen
Thom van Bergen, whom Michael Reizger put in over Noah Ohio for his ability to press the Ukrainian defence, rewarded his coach's confidence when his high pressure put the Ukrainians in trouble. His recovery ended up with Ruben van Bommel getting the ball and laying it off to Luciano Valente, who scored an easy and vital opening goal.
Dutch stopper Robin Roefs almost got his side in trouble when a storming Ukrainian almost made the NEC goalkeeper lose the ball, were it not for the youngster to Cruyff turn his way out of a nasty situation. In the following counter, a volley from Million Manhoef almost saw Oranje go up 2-0, but a Ukrainian defender blocked the effort before it reached Ruslan Neshcheret's goal.
After the break, the Netherlands kept up the pressure as they sought the all-important second goal and quickly rewarded themselves. Kenneth Taylor launched Van Bergen with a deep ball, after which the Groningen striker whipped it over a rushing Neshcheret and put his side up 2-0.
The Dutch youngsters thought they'd locked the win up when Van Bergen scored his second in the 63rd minute, but referee Vasilios Fotias called it off after he spotted a foul from Ruben van Bommel.
Ajax midfielder Youri Regeer, who started and disappointed against Finland, had a disastrous nine minutes on the pitch as he ended his cameo with a brutal foul that resembled Nigel de Jong's high-flying tackle on Xabi Alonso in the 2010 World Cup final.
A nervy final ten minutes ensued in Presov, but Oranje hung onto their lead and eliminated a disappointing Ukraine side, which barely got Roefs in trouble. As the second-placed side in Group D, the Netherlands will continue their U21 Euros campaign with a quarter-final matchup against Portugal on Saturday.
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