Ukraine loses to Scotland, 3-0 at the Nations League
Three months after a deflating loss to the same opposition, John McGinn swept in a deserved 70th-minute opener after a dominant and dynamic Scottish side had passed up a flurry of clear-cut opportunities in Glasgow.
Substitute Lyndon Dykes then headed in twice late on to seal a vital win that means they leapfrog the Ukrainians.
Steve Clarke's side holds a two-point advantage in the top spot with two games remaining, the first of which is the visit of the Republic of Ireland on Saturday, before a potential decider with Ukraine in Krakow next Tuesday.
The build-up to the Hampden play-off three months ago was dominated by the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has had a devastating impact on the nation.
Ukraine, in their first competitive game since the conflict began, somehow roused themselves to a momentous win against the below-par Scots, who went on to beat Armenia twice on either side of an abject 3-0 defeat by the Irish in the following fortnight.
Looking to right the wrongs of a two-week spell that Clarke felt "stalled" his side's progress, the Scotland boss challenged his players to regain their "momentum" at Hampden, a place where they have now lost just once in their last 15 games.
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