On Tuesday, November 19, the Ukrainian national team played their final match of the group stage of the Nations League season 2024/25. The opponent of the "blue-yellow" was the Albanian national team, and the game took place in Tirana at the "Air Albania" stadium.
Nations League 2024/25. Division "B". Group 1. Round 6
ALBANIA — UKRAINE — 1:2 (0:2)
Goals: Bajrami (75 pen.) — Zinchenko (5), Yaremchuk (9)
Warnings: Dovbyk (80) — Bajrami (68), Mitaj (79), Tuci (80)
Ukraine: 12.Trubin — 2.Konoplia (3.Sychev, 76), 13.Zabarnyi, 22.Matviyenko (C), 16.Mykolenko — 21.Kalyuzhny, 8.Sudakov, 17.Zinchenko (10.Shaparenko, 69) — 19.Gutsulyak (14.Nazarenko, 85), 7.Mudryk (4.Taloverov, 85) — 9.Yaremchuk (11.Dovbyk, 76).
Substitutes:1.Bushchan, 23.Riznyk, 5.Bondar, 6.Brazhko, 15.Kryskiy, 18.Yarmoluk, 20.Zubkov.
Albania: 1.Strakosha, 2.Balju, 18.Ismaili (C), 5.Ajeti, 3.Mitaj, 8.Aslani, 20.Ramadani (7.Tuci, 76), 14.Lyachi (15.Seferi, 90), 9.Asani (10.Bajrami, 46), 17.Muchi (21.Khodzha, 51), 19.Daku (11.Uzuni, 46).
Substitutes: 12.Kastrati, 23.Sherri, 4.Hysaj, 6.Mersinaj, 13.Mikhay, 16.Muya, 22.Abrashi.
Match statistics >>>
Post-match press conference >>>
The Ukrainian national team took positional advantage with the starting whistle, and already in the fifth minute of the match, this brought results: during a prolonged attack by the "blue-yellows," Yaremchuk struck from inside the Albanian penalty area, hit an opponent, the ball bounced to Zinchenko, and he scored with a volley from about 12 meters into the bottom corner of Strakosha's net — 0:1.
Less than five minutes later, Ukraine doubled its advantage: Sudakov softly crossed into the opponent's penalty area, Konoplia won a battle in the air, and headed the ball back to the far post, where Yaremchuk jumped and struck with his head from two meters into the Albanian goal — 0:2.
After conceding two goals, the Albanians did not give up but, on the contrary, intensified their attack. However, they did not achieve anything special. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian team soon recorded another dangerous moment — a powerful shot from Sudakov from outside the penalty area, which Strakosha barely managed to deal with, risky deflecting the ball in front of him.
Overall, during this segment of the match, the game was quite even. Towards the end of the first half, the Ukrainian team again held positional advantage, but it was in these conditions that the Albanian team created their first scoring opportunity in this match: just before the halftime whistle, Muchi shot from about 20 meters, and the ball flew just inches from the post.
With the start of the second half, the Albanian team literally rushed towards the Ukrainian goal and generally held the advantage until the final whistle. However, it was the guests who created the first dangerous moment after the break — Sudakov shot from long range, and the ball flew just past the crossbar of Strakosha's goal. Albanians immediately responded with a similar shot by Uzuni. Later, Ajeti also shot accurately at goal — Trubin was able to keep the threat away from his goal with a dive.
The Ukrainian team, in general, defended reliably, but in the 74th minute, Trubin fouled Uzuni in the penalty area, and the referee unhesitatingly awarded a penalty, which Bajrami confidently converted — 1:2.
After this, the pressure on the Ukrainian goal predictably increased even more. However, in the end, the guests managed to maintain their victorious score. Moreover, they could have increased their success, but in stoppage time of the second half, Strakosha managed to deal with Nazarенко's most dangerous shot.
In a parallel match of Round 6 of Group 1 of Division "B", the Czech Republic defeated Georgia at home — 2:1. As a result, the final tournament standings in this group looked as follows:
1. Czech Republic — 11 points
2. Ukraine — 8
3. Georgia — 7
4. Albania — 7
According to the tournament regulations, the Ukrainian national team will now face playoff matches with representatives of Division "A" for the right to compete in it in the next season of the Nations League.
Alexander POPOV
