Ukraine 1-0 Wales: Chris Coleman's side suffer defeat in penultimate game before Euro 2016
Andriy Yarmolenko's first-half strike condemned Wales to 1-0 defeat in their penultimate warm-up game before Euro 2016 against Ukraine.
The Dynamo Kiev winger's 28th minute strike was the difference between the two sides as Ukraine extended a six-game unbeaten run at the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium against home nation sides.
Chris Coleman, who handed a debut to Walsall striker Tom Bradshaw in the second-half, now turns his attentions to naming his 23-man squad for the Euros before the May 31 deadline.
Wales, who were without Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey in Kiev, travel to Stockholm to take on Sweden at the Friends Arena on June 5 just six days before their opening game in France against Slovakia on June 11.
Wales manager Chris Coleman ahead of the international friendly with Ukraine
Wales called on the fit again Neil Taylor and Ben Davies as they reverted to the 5-3-2 formation that served them so well in qualifying for Euro 2016.
Joe Allen, Emyr Huws, Simon Church and Jonny Williams also came into the starting line-up as Coleman made six changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Northern Ireland last Thursday.
Despite the changes, Wales, who were missing the absent quintet of Bale, Ramsey, James Collins, Andy King and Dave Edwards, made a positive start with Tom Lawrence bringing down Chris Gunter's cross in the penalty area before seeing his shot tipped over the bar by Andriy Pyatov.
The visitors were looking extremely comfortable at the back with a simple ball over the top in the 25th minute for Viktor Kovalenko the only of sign of danger, but Wayne Hennessey was quickly off his line to see off the threat.
However, minutes later the Welsh were behind and it was a lapse in concentration which cost them after Jonny Williams gave away a free-kick 30 yards from goal.
Yarmolenko celebrates after scoring against Wales
Ruslan Rotan floated the ball into the box and Yarmolenko was left to run off the back of the wall before powering a half-volley past Hennessey at his near post.
Wales looked to respond just before the break with a free-kick of their own, but Lawrence fired his effort high over the crossbar.
The contest started to open up after the break and moments after Yarmolenko fired over, Allen got himself into shooting position but Pyatov punched his effort clear.
Roman Zozulya and Ben Davies battle for the ball
But Wales continued to defend poorly from set-pieces and it almost hurt them again after 58 minutes as Oleksandr Kucher met another superb Rotan free-kick from 14 yards out, but the ball fell just wide of the far post with Hennessey scrambling across his goal.
Wales sent on Sam Vokes as they looked to grab an equaliser but Ukraine were looking an increasing threat on the break with Yarmolenko a constant danger to the Welsh defence.
Yarmolenko and Wales' Neil Taylor (l) battle for the ball
Bradshaw was also handed his first cap as Coleman shuffled his pack and Wales might have snatched a share of the spoils three minutes from time when Bradshaw flicked on Allen's cross.
But Vokes planted his header wide from 10 yards and Pyatov held on to efforts from Jazz Richards and Shaun MacDonald as Wales pushed for an equaliser right until the final whistle.
МАТЧ-ЦЕНТР
ТОВАРИЩЕСКИЕ МАТЧИ
29.03.2016 МАТЧ
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 21:30 | Австрия | Турция | |
| 21:45 | Германия | Италия | |
| 21:45 | Бельгия | Португалия | |
| 21:45 | Ирландия | Словакия | |
| 22:00 | Англия | Нидерланды | |
| 22:00 | Франция | Россия | |
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