Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko scored a nice volley for Ukraine on Tuesday night to help them progress to the Nations League promotion play-offs.
Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko was left out by Ukraine in their first game of the international break against Georgia, but he returned to the starting lineup for their final Nations League League B game against Albania on Tuesday.
Having also missed the October international break through injury, the start was Zinchenko’s first appearance for his country in over two months, but there was no time to waste getting up to speed.
The match was a pivotal one for Ukraine, with a win sending them into the promotion play-offs to potentially join League A, but defeat condeming them to automatic relegation to League C.
Fortunately, Zinchenko didn’t need any time to adjust. Playing in midfield, as he often does for his country, the 27-year-old opened the scoring less than five minutes into the match.
The goal was very well taken, as Zinchenko pounced on a deflected shot and volleyed home expertly before the defence had time to adjust.
Minutes later, it was 2-0, with Roman Yaremchuk doubling the lead. Though Albania pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 75th minute, Ukraine held on for the win and a spot in the play-offs next March.
Zinchenko was withdrawn at 2-0, playing 69 minutes of the contest. Given his recent injury problems and limited minutes since his return, it was unsurprising to see him coming off early. But he’d done his job.
The highlights of the Ukraine match are available here, and Zinchenko will now return to Arsenal looking to give Mikel Arteta something to think about at left-back ahead of Saturday’s game against Nottingham Forest.