Ukraine hold Italy 1-1

| | Genoa, Italy
  • 0

Ukraine hold Italy 1-1

Friday, 12 October 2018 | AFP | Genoa, Italy

Ruslan Malinovskiy cancelled out Federico Bernardeschi's second half strike as Italy were held 1-1 by Ukraine in an international friendly in Genoa on Wednesday during which the victims of the bridge collapse in the city were remembered.

Bernardeschi's low strike beat Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov after 55 minutes, but seven minutes later Malinovskiy volleyed in for the visitors.

Italy coach Roberto Mancini spent most of his playing career in Genoa, at Sampdoria, and the friendly at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris was organised to raise money for those affected by the collapse of the Morandi bridge on August 14.

Mancini, 53, was the most capped player in Sampdoria's history and also the Genoa club's top scorer winning a Serie A, four Italian Cup and a European Cup Winners Cup with the club.

For Italy the game was a warm-up ahead of the weekend's Nations League game against Poland, with the Ukraine playing the Czech Republic on Tuesday. Paris St Germain midfielder Marco Veratti returned after a long lay-off with Cagliari midfielder Nicolo Barella, 21, making his senior Italy debut.

Pyatov has made a number of fine saves, clearing a low Bernardeschi curling shot after five minutes and a Leonardo Bonucci volley.

There was a double chance just before half-time, as Lorenzo Insigne's effort was beaten away by Pyatov and a Barella volley deflected over.

But Bernardeschi finally got the better of Pyatov after 55 minutes before being replaced by Lazio's Ciro Immobile.

Federico Chiesa missed a chance to close down the game for the Italians, and moments later Mykyta Burda headed down for Malinovskiy to volley in.

The Ukraine play the Czech Republic at home in Kharkiv on Tuesday.

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