Setbacks for Spain, Germany in Group 4 of Nations League
Malta beat Latvia with Borg’s winning goal
MADRID, Oct 14, (AP): Spain and Germany both had setbacks in the Nations League, with Spain losing to Ukraine for the first time ever and Germany being held to a draw by last-place Switzerland.
Spain kept the group lead despite a 1-0 loss in Kyiv in a match attended by about 15,000 fans. Germany went two goals down in the first 30 minutes and couldn’t manage more than a 3-3 draw against the Swiss in Cologne.
Spain have seven points from four matches, one point more than Germany and Ukraine, followed by Switzerland with two points.
In the final round in November, Spain visit Switzerland and then host Germany. Ukraine visit Germany and Switzerland.
Germany fought back to draw with Switzerland after another error-strewn performance.
Mario Gavranovic scored twice for the visitors, who led 2-1 at halftime after capitalizing on sloppy defending and wayward passes by the hosts. The Swiss also were ahead 3-2 by the 57th minute before Serge Gnabry’s equalizer sealed the scoring in the 60th.
The game was played without fans due to rising coronavirus infections in the area.
Midfielder Toni Kroos made his 100th appearance with Germany.
Viktor Tsygankov scored shortly after coming off the bench in the second half to give Ukraine their firstever victory over “La Roja”.
The nearly 15,000 fans who were allowed entry to the Kyiv Olympic Stadium celebrated loudly as Tsygankov struck the net from outside the area after a through-ball by captain Andriy Yarmolenko completing a counterattack in the 76th minute.
It was Ukraine’s first goal against Spain in 17 years. Tsygankov had entered the match about 10 minutes earlier.
Young sensations Ansu Fati and Adama Traoré – touted as the future of Spain’s national team – were together in the starting lineup for the first time but couldn’t help Spain find the net.
Ukraine goalkeeper Georgiy Bushchan made several key saves to keep Spain scoreless for the first time in a Nations League match.
Malta defeated Latvia 1-0 for their first away victory since 2013, with Steve Borg’s winning goal scored seven minutes into second-half injury time.
San Marino earned their first point since 2014 with a 0-0 draw at Liechtenstein, while the Faroe Islands defeated Andorra 2-0 and Luxembourg won 2-1 at Montenegro.