Ukraine 1-0 Albania
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
|
On March 31, Ukraine hosted Albania in a friendly match
Two Shakhtar representatives were named in the starting line-up for the Blue-and-Yellows – goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk and right-back Yukhym Konoplia.
From the opening minutes, Ukraine had a clear advantage in terms of chances and created several excellent opportunities to open the scoring before the break. Early on, Roman Yaremchuk threatened the opposition goal on several occasions: first, the goalkeeper saved his long-range effort; then he found the net with a header, but it was ruled out for offside; and shortly after that he fired a low shot just inches wide of the post. Midway through the half, Voloshyn (his effort was parried by Strakosha with his foot) and Malinovskyi (his signature shot from outside the box went just wide of the right post) both had chances. Shortly before the break, Hutsuliak (his effort flew over the crossbar) and Malinovskyi again (his free kick was saved by the goalkeeper) could also have scored.
Ukraine took the lead immediately after the break: in the 46th minute, Mykhailichenko delivered a cross from the left flank and Oleksii Hutsuliak headed it in at the far post to make it 1-0. Albania tried to seize the initiative and created their first chance – a powerful effort from the right by Laci was brilliantly tipped over from the top corner by Riznyk. Voloshyn could have doubled the lead for the Blue-and-Yellows, but after Hutsuliak’s low cross from the centre of the box he struck straight at the goalkeeper. Shaparenko then created a great chance for himself, his shot from the edge of the penalty area hitting the left post. Hutsuliak had an opportunity to complete a brace, but failed to find the corner of the visitors’ goal. Albania continued to push forward and Riznyk once again came to Ukraine’s rescue by saving Uzuni’s close-range effort. The final chance of the match fell to Ponomarenko: Zubkov and Sudakov combined to set up the young forward, but his shot was blocked by the defenders.
1-0 – Ukraine defeated Albania in a friendly match.
From the opening minutes, Ukraine had a clear advantage in terms of chances and created several excellent opportunities to open the scoring before the break. Early on, Roman Yaremchuk threatened the opposition goal on several occasions: first, the goalkeeper saved his long-range effort; then he found the net with a header, but it was ruled out for offside; and shortly after that he fired a low shot just inches wide of the post. Midway through the half, Voloshyn (his effort was parried by Strakosha with his foot) and Malinovskyi (his signature shot from outside the box went just wide of the right post) both had chances. Shortly before the break, Hutsuliak (his effort flew over the crossbar) and Malinovskyi again (his free kick was saved by the goalkeeper) could also have scored.
Ukraine took the lead immediately after the break: in the 46th minute, Mykhailichenko delivered a cross from the left flank and Oleksii Hutsuliak headed it in at the far post to make it 1-0. Albania tried to seize the initiative and created their first chance – a powerful effort from the right by Laci was brilliantly tipped over from the top corner by Riznyk. Voloshyn could have doubled the lead for the Blue-and-Yellows, but after Hutsuliak’s low cross from the centre of the box he struck straight at the goalkeeper. Shaparenko then created a great chance for himself, his shot from the edge of the penalty area hitting the left post. Hutsuliak had an opportunity to complete a brace, but failed to find the corner of the visitors’ goal. Albania continued to push forward and Riznyk once again came to Ukraine’s rescue by saving Uzuni’s close-range effort. The final chance of the match fell to Ponomarenko: Zubkov and Sudakov combined to set up the young forward, but his shot was blocked by the defenders.
1-0 – Ukraine defeated Albania in a friendly match.