Ukraine vs Albania

Ukraine secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Albania in a friendly clash at the Estadi Ciutat de València in Spain on Tuesday. Oleksii Hutsulyak proved the difference, nodding home just seconds after the restart to settle what was otherwise a tight affair between two sides licking their wounds. The first half was largely uneventful despite Ukraine enjoying the better of the possession. Artem Yaremchuk thought he had broken the deadlock before the break, but the effort was chalked off for offside. The breakthrough came in the 46th minute when Bohdan Mykhailichenko whipped in a cross that Hutsulyak met with a firm header from the centre of the box. Albania struggled to create clear-cut chances as Serhiy Rebrov's men controlled the tempo throughout the second half, comfortably seeing out the slender lead. It was a small consolation for both nations after painful World Cup playoff exits — Ukraine falling to Sweden and Albania bowing out against Poland. A morale-boosting win for Rebrov's side, but plenty of work ahead for both camps.