International friendly: Ukraine 3 Germany 3

Germany were forced to come from behind to record a 3-3 draw with Ukraine in an entertaining friendly in Kiev on Friday.

The hosts were two goals to the good inside 36 minutes at the Olympic Stadium thanks to Andriy Yarmolenko and Yevhen Konoplyanka.

Bayern Munich attacker Toni Kroos pulled a goal back for Germany, though Serhiy Nazarenko restored Ukraine’s two-goal advantage just before the break.

But a second-half recovery from the visitors saw Simon Rolfes and Thomas Mueller gave Germany a hard-fought draw to extend their unbeaten run to nine matches, while they have lost just once in their last 19 outings.

Joachim Loew’s men controlled possession in the opening exchanges, but failed to find the cutting edge to break down the spirited Ukraine back four and the hosts struck on the break on 28 minutes.

Artem Milevskyi was released down the flank and his cut-back finding Yarmolenko, who tapped in from close range.

Despite conceding, Germany continued to be vulnerable on the counter-attack and they were punished again nine minutes later.

Mats Hummels lost possession on the edge of the Ukraine area, and Konoplyanka took control and sprinted 80 metres unchallenged before rounding debutant goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler and doubling his side’s advantage.

However, Germany pulled one back within minutes thanks to Kroos, who fired home from 25 yards after collecting a loose ball.

Oleh Blokhin’s men were not daunted by the setback, and restored their two-goal cushion moments later.

Nazarenko – a 42nd-minute introduction – made an instant impact, unleashing an unstoppable 30-yard drive into the top corner.

Germany emerged from the break with new defensive focus and reduced the deficit on 65 minutes through substitute Rolfes, who bundled home a scrappy goal to make it 3-2.

The visitors controlled play thereafter, and managed to level matters when Mueller’s well-placed effort found the corner from the edge of the area.

While Loew’s men largely took over after the equaliser, Ukraine twice went close to snatching a winner on the counter-attack in the dying minutes.

Nazarenko’s first touch let him down when he would have been clear in a two-on-one, before Marko Devich hit a stoppage time effort into the legs of Zieler.

Germany will meet the Netherlands on Tuesday, while Ukraine host Austria.