On March 30 atmosphere was really festive in Dnipropetrovsk. White and blue colors could be seen all over the city just like Ukrainian flags.
Traditionally FC Dynamo Kyiv and FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk fans organized a march to the stadium.
Speaking about squads, Oleh Blokhin didn’t make a single substitution comparing to the game against FC Metalist Kharkiv. Juande Ramos let Douglas and Roman Zozulia tale the field instead of Yevhen Cheberiachko and Yevhen Selezniov.
Home side started the game a bit more actively than visitors. Early in the first half Andriy Yarmolenko headed the ball in after the cross from Denys Harmash, but he was flagged offside.
22 minutes into the match a real tragedy could happen. Dynamo skipper Oleh Husiev was hit by Dnipro goalkeeper Denys Boiko after the cross into the box. Oleh was taken to the hospital immediately. According to the White-Blues doctors he’s got first-grade concussion and fracture of the jaw. He’s also lost one tooth.
Thus Andriy Yarmolenko got captain’s armband and Jeremain Lens made a substitute appearance.
Dnipro kept controlling the game. Giuliano missed the target from inside the penalty area and Matheus hit the post.
Eventually home side scored in a stoppage time. Ognjen Vukojevic let Giuliano put a cross into Dynamo box and Matheus headed the ball in.
Early in the second half Aleksandar Dragovic passed carelessly to Olexandr Rybka, Matheus obtained the ball, eluded Dynamo keeper and hit the open goal.
After that Dieumerci Mbokani took the field instead of Ognjen Vukojevic. Still Kyivans didn’t start creating a lot of scoring chances.
As a result Dynamo have lost against direct competitor in the battle for Premiership.
Key episode
Football is just a game. Human life is above all and the episode when Oleh Husiev suffered a severe injury proves that. We wish the White-Blues skipper recover as quickly as possible.
Top person
Dnipro striker Matheus scored brace, so he’s definitely the top player of the match.
Matchday 23. Premier League
30.03.2014. Dnipropetrovsk. Dnipro-Arena. 27,146 spectators
Dnipro – Dynamo – 2:0 (1:0)
Dnipro: Boiko, Mazuch, Kankava, Giuliano (Kulakov, 90+1), Konoplianka (Cheberiachko, 85), Strinic, Zozulia (Selezniov, 90+4), Douglas, Rotan (c), Fedetskyi, Matheus.
Dynamo: Rybka, Danilo Silva, Miguel, Vukojevic (Mbokani, 62), Dragovic, Yarmolenko, Ideye, Harmash, Husiev (c) (Lens, 25), Vida, Makarenko.
Goals: Matheus (45+2, 58)
Yellow cards: Strinic (72), Zozulia (89), Boiko (90+1) – Harmash (20), Danilo Silva (66)
On March 30 FC Dynamo Kyiv will face FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk away within the Ukrainian Premier League matchday 23.
The game will start at 17:00 at Dnipro-Arena.
Dynamo: start of decisive period
After two UPL spring matches against outsiders at the NSC Olimpiyskyi Kyivans are to face direct competitor in the battle for Premiership – FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.
On March 26 the White-Blues defeated FC Metalist in Kharkiv within the Ukrainian Cup quarterfinal. Oleh Blokhin was satisfied with his performers’ play in that match.
The forthcoming period will be decisive for the White-Blues this season as they’ll feature against all top seven UPL teams within the month. “Interesting schedule, it’s going to be fun”, - stated halfback Oleh Husiev.
Speaking about losses, centre back Yevhen Khacheridi won’t play in Dnipropetrovsk. It’s questionable whether Younes Belhanda will take the field and goalkeeper Olexandr Shovkovskyi has just recovered from injury and started training.
On the other hand coaching staff counts on Dieumerci Mbokani.
Kyivans have a chance to defeat Dnipro for the 30th time within the UPL.
Dnipro: moving from words to deeds
Dnipropetrovsk side have been expressing claims to Champions League spot for several years. Last time they finished second in 1993 under the charge of Mykola Pavlov.
Today Dnipro are moving from words to deeds. After the winter break they played really worthy against Tottenham Hotspur within the Europa League and defeated FC Shakhtar Donetsk away.
“We have ambitious goals. We are struggling for Premiership, but there are still many matches to be played”, - informed Dynamo keeper Denys Boiko, who features for Dnipro on loan.
Dnipropetrovsk side can be optimistic about their horizons.
Yevhen Konoplianka is in great conditions, Yevhen Selezniov keeps scoring. Matheus and Zozulia are unpredictable as always.
Statistics
Dynamo faced Dnipro 45 times within the Ukrainian Premier League. Kyivans won 29 matches and their opponents – 7. Nine more matches ended in a draw. Goal difference is 81:37 for the White-Blues.
In Dnipropetrovsk Dynamo won 13 games out of 22 and lost four times. Goal difference – 36:14 for our team.
Last match
2013/14 Ukrainian Premier League. Matchday 8
01.09.2013. Kyiv, NSC Olimpiyskyi. 51, 580 spectators
Dynamo – Dnipro – 1:1 (0:1)
Dynamo: Koval, Vukojevic, Dragovic, Lens, Yarmolenko, Husiev (c), Haruna, Tremoulinas, Khacheridi, Mbokani, Belhanda (Bezus, 50).
Dnipro: Boiko, Mazuch, Mandziuk, Kankava, Konoplianka (Bruno Gama, 90), Selezniov (Kalinić, 57), Cheberiachko, Strinić, Zozulia (Douglas), Rotan (c), Matheus.
Goals: Yarmolenko (64) – Zozulia (22).
Yellow cards: Tremoulinas (22), Haruna (77) – Cheberiachko (44), Selezniov (51), Kankava (54), Boiko (82).
