On Tuesday, March 31, Ukraine national team, following their defeat to Sweden in the World Cup 2026 qualifying playoff semifinal (1:3), played a friendly match against Albania, who had lost to Poland (1:2).
Serhii Rebrov’s side claimed a narrow 1:0 victory. The only goal came early in the second half when Oleksii Hutsuliak scored after receiving a cross from Bohdan Mykhailichenko from the flank. It’s also worth noting that in the first half Roman Yaremchuk found the net after a delivery from Hutsuliak but the goal was disallowed for offside. Dynamo player Nazar Voloshyn also came close to scoring but missed his chance.
In the second half Voloshyn nearly doubled Ukraine’s lead but was slightly unlucky. In another moment fellow Dynamo player Mykola Shaparenko — who was playing his 50th match for the national team — hit the post. Despite Ukraine’s active play, control of the match and several dangerous chances no more goals were scored.
Overall four Dynamo players took part in the match. Midfielders Mykola Shaparenko and Nazar Voloshyn started the game and were substituted in the second half (Shaparenko in the 82nd minute, Voloshyn in the 74th). Defender Oleksandr Tymchyk came on as a substitute in the 64th minute as did forward Matvii Ponomarenko who made his second appearance for the senior national team.
International Friendly Match
Ukraine – Albania – 1:0 (0:0)
March 31st. Valencia (Spain). Ciutat de València Stadium.
Ukraine: Riznyk, Konoplya (Tymchyk, 64), Zabarnyi (c), Sarapiy, Mykhailichenko, Shaparenko (Sudakov, 82), Yarmolyuk (Kaliuzhnyi, 64), Malinovskyi (Zubkov, 74), Hutsuliak (Tsyhankov, 82), Yaremchuk (Ponomarenko, 64), Voloshyn (Zubkov, 74).
Goal: Hutsuliak (46).
