Narrow home wins for Northern Ireland, Ukraine
Monday, March 28, 2016
Article summary
Northern Ireland stretched their unbeaten run to a national record ten matches by defeating Slovenia 1-0 on a night when Ukraine edged fellow UEFA EURO 2016 qualifiers Wales.
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- Full pre-UEFA EURO 2016 friendly fixture list
- Full rundown of March friendlies
- UEFA EURO 2016 final tournament fixtures
- 2018 FIFA World Cup: European Qualifiers
Northern Ireland 1-0 Slovenia(Washington 41)
Northern Ireland: Carroll; Smith (McLaughlin 71), Cathcart, J Evans, McAuley (Hughes 46); Norwood, McNair (McGinn 79), Davis, Ferguson (Dallas 60); Washington (Magennis 70), Ward (Lafferty 60)
Conor Washington scored his first goal for Northern Ireland as Michael O'Neill's men made it a national record ten games unbeaten. Queens Park Rangers forward Washington, given his debut in the 1-1 draw away to Wales on Thursday, rifled in a shot before the break. Roy Carroll preserved the hosts' lead by saving Milovoje Novakovič's 65th-minute spot kick, awarded after Jonny Evans was penalised for pulling back Miral Samardžić as a corner was delivered.
Ukraine 1-0 Wales(Yarmolenko 28)
Ukraine: Pyatov; Fedetskiy, Kucher, Khacheridi, Shevchuk; Stepanenko, Rotan (Sydorchuk 59), Kovalenko, Yarmolenko, Garmash; Zozulya
Wales: Hennessey; Gunter, Chester, A Williams (Richards 65), Davies, Taylor (Henley 72); Allen, Huws (Ledley 79), J Williams (MacDonald 61); Lawrence (Bradshaw 72), Church (Vokes 61)
Andriy Yarmolenko's well-taken half-volley earned Ukraine their second 1-0 win in four days. The Dynamo Kyiv winger, playing on his home ground, turned adroitly inside the penalty area to fire Ruslan Rotan's lofted free-kick past Wayne Hennessey at his near post. Wales were once again without Gareth Bale, who is at home following the recent birth of his second daughter, and the injured Aaron Ramsey.