Ukraine 2-0 Poland: Yarmolenko Closes In On Shevchenko Record

Ukraine beat Poland

Ukraine beat Poland 2-0 in a friendly at Wrocław for their first win over their rivals since 2013. Goals from Yaremchuk and Yarmolenko sealed victory.

Andriy Yarmolenko scored on his return as Ukraine beat rivals Poland in Wrocław. Yaremchuk opened the scoring to end Ukraine’s 12-year H2H drought...

Andriy Yarmolenko scored as Ukraine beat Poland 2-0 in Wrocław, ending a 12-year head-to-head drought against their rivals. It was only Ukraine’s second win in six away games.

With both sides’ World Cup hopes already ended by Sweden in the March play-offs, the friendly had no qualification stakes. Only national pride was at stake in this dead-rubber clash.

Both teams were already looking ahead, but familiar Polish names still set the tempo early on. Creating clear chances was the problem though. Robert Lewandowski could only watch in frustration as Nicola Zalewski’s cross flashed across the face of goal. Ukraine then thought they’d scored through Viktor Tsygankov, but his celebration was cut short by an offside flag.

Teenage winger Oskar Pietuszewski impressed on his first international start, but couldn’t get past Anatoliy Trubin after being played through. Sebastian Szymański also blazed over as Poland pushed harder. Their inability to convert pressure cost them, and Ukraine struck against the run of play.

Tsygankov won possession in midfield and Roman Yaremchuk pounced, charging forward before firing a 25-yard strike into the bottom corner. It was his first goal for Ukraine since November 2024. The visitors kept pushing, and Yehor Nazaryna went close with a shot that whistled just wide as they looked for a second.

Ukraine got that second before half-time through Andriy Yarmolenko. He scored on his first appearance since March 2025, tapping in Tsygankov’s low cross at the back post. The goal moved him to within one of Andriy Shevchenko’s all-time Ukraine record of 48.

Poland boss Jan Urban made five half-time changes, including pulling off a quiet Robert Lewandowski. Like in the first half, the hosts started faster after the break but wasted a perfect chance to get back in it. Mykola Matviyenko’s square ball across his own box was intercepted by half-time sub Karol Świderski, yet Anatoliy Trubin saved from point-blank range.

 

KONIEC MECZU
Przegrywamy z Ukrainą 0:2.
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FT #POLUKR 0:2 🇵🇱🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/rfL3Nlg3yZ

— Łączy nas piłka (@LaczyNasPilka) May 31, 2026

Mateusz Zukowski shot late but couldn’t break through, and Poland’s comeback never came. The loss adds to the pain of missing a first World Cup since 2014. Ukraine, meanwhile, won their first game under Andrea Maldera. They can now chase back-to-back away wins for the first time since 2024 when they face Denmark next week.