MX23RW : Sunday, December 22 16:25:12| >> :600:2597011:2597011:

Nations League roundup: Ukraine beat Spain as Germany held by Switzerland

Nations League roundup: Ukraine beat Spain as Germany held by Switzerland
© Reuters
Luis Enrique's side remain top of the group as rivals Germany recovered to draw 3-3 in Cologne.

Spain were on the wrong end of a shock Nations League defeat in Ukraine, while their Group A4 rivals Germany drew a six-goal thriller with Switzerland.

Luis Enrique's Spanish side remain top by a point as a result, but they left Kiev with nothing after Viktor Tsygankov came off the bench to hand Ukraine a 1-0 victory.

Andriy Shevchenko set the hosts up to defend and stifle their visitors and they successfully held their clean sheet, allowing Tsygankov to secure the points. He did so in the 76th minute, breaking straight between the central defenders to collect Andriy Yarmolenko's precise pass and fire past David de Gea.

Switzerland roared out of the traps in their 3-3 draw in Cologne, taking the lead after five minutes when Mario Gavranovic headed smartly over Manuel Neuer to cap a spell of early pressure.

Remo Freuler made it two after 26 minutes when he got on the end of Haris Seferovic's cross and cleverly lifted a delicate finish over Neuer and the back-tracking Antonio Rudiger.

Chelsea pair Timo Werner and Kai Havertz shot back in either half to leave the scores tied before Gavranovic's second restored the lead. It fell to Serge Gnabry to close out the scoring on the hour, improving a flick off the instep to convert a Werner cutback, before Switzerland finished with 10 men following Fabian Schar's late red card.

Remo Freuler celebrates his goal against Germany.
Remo Freuler celebrates his goal against Germany (Martin Meissner/AP)

In Group C1, Luxembourg moved level with opponents Montenegro on nine points as they won 2-1 in Podgorica.

Igor Ivanovic put Montenegro in front before Edvin Muratovic and Daniel Sinani completed the turnaround. A late scuffle in injury-time resulted in three red cards, with Marko Jankovic, Marko Simic and Olivier Thill all dismissed.

Azerbaijan and Cyprus shared a goalless draw. Qara Garayev missed a first-half penalty for the hosts, allowing Cyprus their first point of the competition.

In D1, Malta recorded their first away win in more than seven years as Steve Borg sealed victory over Latvia seven minutes into added time.

There were chances aplenty in Riga, with Davis Ikaunieks missing while clean through in the first half, but a stalemate looked to be on the cards.

Stephen Pisani's free-kick represented the last chance for a result and Borg managed to nod it home for a long-awaited success, Malta's first in the Nations League.

The Faroe Islands remain five points clear of Malta after a 2-0 win over Andorra, Klaemint Olsen netting both goals. In D2, San Marino drew 0-0 in Liechtenstein.

ID:418268: cacheID:418268:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8060:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Glen Kamara in action for Rangers on November 28, 2019
Read Next:
Glen Kamara hoping to take Finland form back to Rangers
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Lions
@
Bears
6pm
Browns
@
Bengals
6pm
Patriots
@
Bills
6pm
Titans
@
Colts
6pm
Giants
@
Falcons
6pm
Rams
@
Jets
6pm
Cardinals
@
Panthers
6pm
Eagles
@
Washington
9.05pm
Vikings
@
Seahawks
9.25pm
49ers
@
Dolphins
9.25pm
Jags
@
Raiders
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!