On Sunday, May 31, the Ukraine national football team played a friendly match against another playoff disappointment – the Poland national football team. The match took place at Tarczyński Arena in Wrocław.
One representative of FC Dynamo Kyiv started in the lineup for the “yellow-blues” – after more than a year-long break, Andriy Yarmolenko returned to the pitch in the national team shirt and also led his teammates out wearing the captain’s armband.
It was clear how much the experienced midfielder had missed playing for the national team, and Yarmolenko’s activity was relentless. In the 17th minute Andriy received the ball on the right flank and delivered a low cross into the penalty area. The goalkeeper parried Roman Yaremchuk’s effort and Viktor Tsyhankov reacted first to the rebound and sent the ball into the net. However, the goal was disallowed after an offside was given against the Dynamo player. Yarmolenko also worked hard defensively, going firmly into tackles against the attacking players of the Polish side led by star striker Robert Lewandowski.
Overall, the first half of the opening period was played with the hosts in control, creating plenty of attacks and attempts on goal, although most of them were off target. But “Yellow-Blues” converted one of their few chances in the 34th minute. Viktor Tsyhankov won the ball from an opponent, drove the attack forward and set up Roman Yaremchuk, who adjusted the ball and struck accurately from around 22 meters into the bottom corner to make it 0:1.
The goal gave the Ukrainian team more confidence, and in the 44th minute the “yellow-blues” doubled their lead. Vitaliy Mykolenko split the defense with a pass to Viktor Tsyhankov on the left side of the box. Tsyhankov then played a low cross across the six-yard line, where Andriy Yarmolenko arrived and, while falling, guided the ball under the crossbar into the empty net – 0:2. It was Andriy’s 47th goal for the national team in his 126th appearance, leaving him just one goal short of Andriy Shevchenko’s all-time scoring record.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with the Polish team enjoying most of the possession, but the “yellow-blues” kept a clean sheet. Two more Dynamo players also featured, with midfielder Mykola Shaparenko (51st appearance for the national team) and striker Matviy Ponomarenko (3rd appearance) coming on during the second half.
Ukraine therefore secured a confident victory in the first match under new head coach Andrea Maldera. The “yellow-blues” will play their next match on June 7 against the Denmark national football team.
Friendly Match
Poland – Ukraine — 0:2 (0:2)
Poland: Bułka – Kiwior (Potulski, 74), Kędziora, Wiśniewski (Wójcik, 46) – Pyrka (Wojtuszek, 59), Zieliński (Kapustka, 46), Piotrowski (Sliś, 87), Zalewski (Ruzga, 59), Szymański (Świderski, 46), Pietuszewski (Kamiński, 46) – Lewandowski (Żukowski, 46).
Ukraine: Trubin – Romanchuk (Bondar, 46), Sarapiy, Matviyenko, Mykolenko – Ocheretko, Nazaryna (Bondarenko, 83), Yarmolenko (Shaparenko, 56), Tsyhankov (Synchuk, 75), Sudakov (Nazarenko, 56) – Yaremchuk (Ponomarenko, 56).
Goals: Yaremchuk (34), Yarmolenko (44).
Booked: Nazaryna (65), Mykolenko (89).
Photo: Ukrainian Association of Football
