The charity friendly between Borussia Mönchengladbach and the Ukraine national team ended in a 2-1 win to the visitors at BORUSSIA-PARK on Wednesday night. All proceeds from the game will be donated towards helping those affected by the war in Ukraine.
Around 20,300 spectators were at the stadium to show their support, with the now infamous “U-kra-in-e” chants regularly echoing around in a friendly but also emotional atmosphere at BORUSSIA-PARK. On the pitch, it was an even match between the two sides, with Mykhaylo Mudryk’s early opening goal tucked into an empty net (9’) cancelled out soon after by Conor Noß after he capitalised on a misplaced pass (14’). The second half had a number of changes and was less action-packed, but Ukraine grabbed a late winner courtesy of Oleksandr Pikhalyonok’s low strike from the edge of the box (82’), ensuring their return to football action was as positive as the message sent by everyone involved.
TEAM NEWS
Adi Hütter’s line-up in the first half featured Yann Sommer in goal behind a back-three of Matthias Ginter, Marvin Friedrich and Nico Elvedi. Patrick Herrmann and Joe Scally took up wing-back positions, with Rocco Reitz behind Jonas Hofmann and Conor Noß in midfield. Lars Stindl and Breel Embolo led the line.
There were a string of alterations at half time. Tobias Sippel was now between the sticks, Scally moved into the back-three alongside Elvedi and Ramy Bensebaini, while Stefan Lainer and Luca Netz came on at wing-back. Reitz continued in midfield, joined by Manu Koné and Florian Neuhaus, with Breel Embolo and Keanan Bennetts up top. Torben Müsel also came on during the second half.
The Foals were without Marcus Thuram (adductor), Christoph Kramer (muscular problems), Tony Jantschke (knee), László Bénes (recovery work) and Jordan Beyer (muscular problems) for the charity match.
MATCH FACTS
Borussia:
First half: Sommer – Ginter, Friedrich, Elvedi – Herrmann, Scally – Reitz, Hofmann, Noß – Stindl, Plea
Second half: Sippel – Scally, Elvedi (68’ Müsel), Bensebaini – Lainer, Netz – Koné, Reitz, Neuhaus – Embolo, Bennetts
Ukraine: Bushchan (46’ Riznyk) – Konoplia, Zabarnyi, Matviienko, Karavaiev – Sydorchuk, Stepanenko (75’ Pikhalonok) – Shaparenko (79’ Syrota), Buialskyi (46’ Popov), Mudryk (69’ Buletsa) – Biesiedin (69’ Garmash)
Goals: 0-1 Mudryk (9’), 1-1 Noß (14’), 1-2 Pikhalonok (82’)
Attendance: 20.223 (BORUSSIA-PARK)
Referees: Denys Shurman (Ukraine, first half), Daniel Siebert (Germany, second half)
