To finish off, our thoughts go out to everyone affected by the recent tragedies in Paris and across the world.
Thank you for joining me for VAVEL's coverage of Ukraine - Slovenia you can find me on Twitter @Danialkennedy95 and until next time have a great evening
18:55 - However they werent without their problems could have easily got themselves back in it and the home side should of scored more and that it is something they'll be looking to address ahead of next week's second leg
18:55 - Ukraine move one step closer to Euro 2016 ! It was a good performance from the home side with goals each side of the half from Yarmolenko and Seleznyov
FT - Ukraine 2-0 Slovenia
90' - Konoplyanka drives down the left, cuts inside into onto his right foot but then slices his shot wide of goal looks like Urkaine have secured the win
83' - Another sub with Seleznyov is taken off and Artem Kravets comes on.
80' - Away side applying some pressure as the game enters the final ten minutes but no luck, first Ukranian sub with Garmash replaced by Ruslan Malinovsky.
72' - Sub another from Slovenia as they look to get something from the game with Birsa replaced by Nejc Pecnik.
68' - Ukraine come so close to a third ! Seleznyov takes advantage of a attempted long ball and is to get in on goal. He goes for the far corner with a right-footed shot but it hits the woodwork and bounces out. Still somehow 2-0
62' - SUB first of the night from the visitors as Roman Bezjak comes on to replace Ilicic. Remains 2-0 Ukraine
58' - Garmash almost made it three! Slovenia were dispossesed which saw Sydorchuk cross for Garmash, who is wide open about 10 yards out but he directs his header at Handanovic and the keeper saves. 2-0
54' - The game bursts into the life as Seleznyov doubles their lead. Yarmolenko slides a ball through for Fedetskiy, who is overlapping on the right and crosses for Seleznyov to tap home at the back post
54' - GOAL Ukraine 2-0 Slovenia
50' - Slow start to the proceedings with Ukraine trying to play the long ball over the top but failing but still lead 1-0
45' - Back underway here with Ukraine kicking off
17:51 - Ukranian manager Mykhaylo Fomenko will be hoping for the same in the next half as they look to go one big step to breaking that dreaded curse
17:49 - The favourites currently lead in the first leg of this play-off tie, Yarmonlenko gave the hosts the lead but Slovenia could have been back in it and possibly lead with their two great chances
HT - Ukraine 1-0 Slovenia
44' - Very close to HT here looks certain that Ukraine will head into the break 1-0 ahead
39' - Ukraine came close to a second as Rybalka has a shot deflected just wide of the post and Garmash then has a header saved from the subsequent corner. Still 1-0
28' - Another opportunity for Slovenia as the ball breaks kindly for Birsa who passes to Novakovic in the middle of the box. It looks like danger for Ukraine but Novakovic's touch is so poor it runs off him and through to the keeper.
26' - Big opportunity for Slovenia as a cross from the left is nodded down by Novakovic for Illic just inside the area but the power is too much as blasts his half volley over the bar.
22' - Yarmolenko gives the home side the lead ! terrible defending from Slovenia as Handanovic weakly palms out a cross for Yarmolenko, who fakes to shoot and deceives three players before drilling a shot into the far corner 1-0 !
22' - GOAL Ukraine 1-0 Slovenia
16' - Ukraine starting take a fothold in the match with Fedetsky having a shot deflected just past the post.
15' - Both have had half opportunites but neither of any recognition still 0-0
2' - It has been a positive start from the home side with Shevchuk pinging in a great cross from the left wing that Yarmolenko stretches for but can't quite reach. 0-0
1' - Slovenia get the game underway
1' - A minute is been held in memory for the tragedies happening in France
16:51 - Little under ten minutes until kick-off at the Arena Liviv
16:33 - Slovenia starting XI: Handanovic, Brecko, Cesar, Ilic, Jokic, Kurtic, Birsa, Kampl, Krhin, Ilicic, Novakovic.
16:27 - Ukraine starting XI: Pyatov, Khacheridi, Shevchuk, Fedetskiy, Rakitskiy, Konoplyanka, Sydorchuk, Rybalka, Garmash, Yarmolenko, Seleznyov.
16:17 - Team news to follow
16:15 - Ukraine will be favourites tonight as they look to secure their place on the plane to France next summer, but with their recent form in past play-offs there will be some nerves
16:00 - Hello everyone I am Danial Kennedy and welcome to VAVEL's coverage of the Euro 2016 play-off between Ukraine and Slovenia
Ukraine’s recent record against their upcoming opponents is also stacked against them as they have failed to defeat them in the last four matches. This has included two defeats and two draws with their biggest defeat coming back in 2000. This will be repeat of that playoff in which Slovenia defeated Ukraine 3-2 on aggregate to reach the European Championships in the Netherlands & Belgium but Ukraine will be looking to change that record.
A big blow for the home side will be the absence of Rusian Rotan for the two legs after he picked up an injury while playing in the Europa League for Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk last week. Taras Stepanenko will also be missing for the Ukrainians as he serves a suspension but Andriy Pyatov should be able to make a return after recovering from a knock. Slovenia don’t have any concerns in terms of injuries or suspensions but there has been quite a shake up with Tim Matavz, Nejc Skubic and Dejan Trajkovski all been dropped with Srecko Katanec, Miso Brecko, Sinsia Andjelkovic and Benjamin Verbic been brought into the squad.
They somehow managed to pull it off as win against Estonia and San Marino and a draw with Lithuania made sure they finished six points above their closest rivals Estonia in Group E. Slovenia themselves have been involved in play-off matches winning two World Cup play-offs against Russia and Romania to reach the 2010 and 2002 tournaments respectively. They have one and lost one in the European Championships losing out to Croatia in 2004 but actually defeated their upcoming opponents to reach the 2000 tournament.
It will be Slovenia who will be looking to spoil the party and continue Ukraine’s terrible record in the play-off process. Their recent form has been quite a balance having lost three of their last six, two 3-2 defeats to both the automatic qualifiers in England and Switzerland really brought their play-off chances into consideration.
However Ukraine manager Mykhailo Fomenko will be hopeful that he can be the man that will finally break the voodoo that Ukraine seem to have whenever they reach a play-off stage. The international side have failed to make it through the two-legged knockout process on five separate occasions failing to make through the World Cup play-off in 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2014 and one European Championship in 2000. Despite the obvious record when it comes to the play-off process, Ukraine will be still confident of a victory having lost just two matches in the last 17 on home soil in all competitions.
It would be expected by many that the Ukrainians would be favourites to make it through to France next summer. The home side had a decent qualifying process finishing off in third position with 19 points which has set up this tie. They also have a decent run of form as they have just one defeat in their last six with four victories, however it does seem the goalless draw with Slovakia and a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final qualifying match which seemed to cost them automatic qualification for next summer’s tournament finishing three points behind Slovakia.
Ukraine will be looking to end their poor record in the play-off process when they take on Slovenia in the first leg of the Euro 2016 play-off on Saturday.