Ukraine team returns to soccer, wins friendly against German club

Ukraine is back on the soccer field. The Ukrainian men’s national team returned to action Wednesday for the first time since the invasion by Russia, beating German club Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1 in a charity fundraiser.

The friendly was a chance for the Ukrainians to get back into form ahead of a World Cup qualifying playoff game against Scotland on June 1, but also just to show their team is still going, despite everything. “We thank you all for your great help,” former world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko, whose brother Vitali is mayor of Kyiv, said in a video message to the German club and fans played ahead of the game. It felt as if “both (teams) are playing for us,” he added.

The squad for the unusual club-versus-country friendly was assembled from Ukrainian clubs whose league seasons were frozen Feb. 24 on the morning Russian troops invaded. Ukraine has banned men of fighting age from leaving the country during the war, so the players needed special permission from authorities to travel. Some have been touring Europe for weeks.

The crowd of 20,000 contained many Ukrainians — given free tickets — who roared when winger Mykhailo Mudryk scored in the ninth minute to give Ukraine the lead. Gladbach responded with a powerful shot from Ireland youth international Conor Noss to level the score. Oleksandr Pikhalonok gave Ukraine the win in the 82nd.

If Ukraine beats Scotland in the single-leg playoff in Glasgow on June 1, it will face Wales four days later in Cardiff for a place at this year’s World Cup in Qatar.