Ukraine hold off Iceland comeback

Ukraine 3-2 Iceland
Ukraine resisted a second-half fightback from a depleted Iceland team in a friendly between two of this summer UEFA European Under-21 Championship finalists.

That the hosts started with a quartet capped at full international level as opposed to an Iceland side weakened by the absence of ten players called into the senior squad, was plain to see as Andriy Yarmolenko struck either side of Maxym Biliy's 51st-minute effort. Aron Jóhannsson, with a penalty, and Björn Bergmann Sigurdarson's breakaway effort on 74 minutes gave Iceland hope of an unlikely draw but their efforts were ultimately to no avail.

Iceland goalkeeper Haraldur Björnsson denied Ukraine more than once before Yarmolenko broke the deadlock by firing in a shot from outside the box on 27 minutes. Biliy doubled the lead six minutes after the break from 30 metres before playing a role in a second goal for FC Dynamo Kyiv's Yarmolenko, who, on his home ground, touched in Yevhen Selin's cross.

Iceland, whose threats largely emanated from set pieces, reduced their arrears through Jóhannsson after Denys Garmash was penalised for a foul in the area. The Ukrainian defence then lost concentration again when Sigurdarson latched on to a long ball 16 minutes from time.