Fiji Sun

Ukraine return to football action with a win

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Berlin: Mykhaylo Mudryk and Oleksandr Pikhalyono­k scored as Ukraine’s men’s national football team marked their return to action with a 2-1 friendly victory against German club side Borussia Mönchengla­dbach.

The match at Borussia-Park was attended by 20,223 spectators, with all proceeds being donated towards relief efforts in Ukraine.

Citizens of Ukraine were granted free entry to their national team’s first match since a FIFA World Cup qualifier in Bosnia and Herzegovin­a in November last year.

The friendly served as a warm-up for Ukraine’s World Cup qualifying playoff away to Scotland, which is scheduled for June 1.

The winner of the tie is due to travel to Wales on June 5 for a one-off match to determine who will join England, Iran and the United States in Group B at Qatar 2022.

Ukraine fielded a team made up entirely of domestic-based players against Borussia Mönchengla­dbach, with the Ukrainian Premier League season having been terminated last month due to Russia’s invasion.

The national team wore special tops which featured the words “United for Ukraine” and an outline of the country, and players from both sides posed for a picture with a “Stop War” banner prior to kick-off.

Ukrainian singer Khrystyna Solovyi performed the country’s national anthem at an emotional Borussia-Park before the match began. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, assisted by Belarus, has received widespread condemnati­on.

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