The Ukrainian Premier League matchday 2 fixture was long-awaited in Kharkiv by supporters, who came to Metalist Stadium and looked at the half-empty arena with disappointment.
That happened because of the strange decision to start the game at 17:00. The majority of people probably didn’t want to watch the game at the stadium as the temperature was about 35 degrees above zero.
The White-Blues took the field with mourning bands in memory of Dynamo legendary halfback Valentyn Belkevych, who passed away the day before the match.
Comparing with the last game Serhiy Rebrov made only one substitution in the starting lineup. Vladyslav Kalytvyntsev featured instead of Oleh Husiev.
Kyivans were the first to take the game under control. They attacked more than home side.
14 minutes into the game Bezus found Belhanda in the penalty area with a straight pass, Younes put a low cross to Kravets and Artem scored his first goal of the season.
Rakhayev’s men tried to seize the initiative, but they had problems with team play and individual skills of Azevedo and Xavier weren’t enough.
A minute before the break referee Zhabchenko awarded penalty for Dynamo and Yarmolenko converted from the spot.
In the second half Serhiy Sydorchuk took the place of centre back Aleksandar Dragovic, who picked up an injury.
The White-Blues kept controlling the game, but 60minutes into the match referee awarded penalty for Metalist and Xavier hit the target.
Within half an hour left till the final whistle there was everything: pressure from Metalist, two great Dynamo counterattacks which didn’t result in goals and red card for Serhiy Rybalka.
Anyway Serhiy Rebrov’s men have won this difficult game.
2014/15 UPL. Matchday 2
02.08.2014. Kharkiv. Metalist Stadium. 17,624 spectators
FC Metalist Kharkiv – FC Dynamo Kyiv – 1:2 (0:2)
Metalist: Dišljenković, Villagra, Torsiglieri (Torres, 67), Yussuf, Pshenychnykh, Edmar (c), Krasnopiorov (Rebenok, 76), Kulakov, Azevedo, Xavier, Homeniuk (Jaja Coelho, 53).
Dynamo: Shovkovskyi (c), Silva, Vida, Dragovic (Sydorchuk, 46), Makarenko, Kalytvyntsev, Bezus (Harmash, 63), Belhanda (Selin, 82), Rybalka, Yarmolenko, Kravets.
Goals: Xavier (60, pen.) – Kravets (14, assist – Belhanda), Yarmolenko (44, pen.).
Yellow cards: Villagra (85) – Rybalka (27), Shovkovskyi (60), Belhanda (68), Harmash (78).
Red card: Rybalka (85, second booking).
On August 2 FC Dynamo Kyiv will face FC Metalist Kharkiv away within the Ukrainian Premier League matchday 2.
The game will start at 17:00.
Dynamo: to impose opponent own play
FC Dynamo Kyiv started the 2014/15 UPL with home win against FC Vorskla Poltava.
The only goal of the game was scored by Roman Bezus, who didn’t get a lot of game practice last season. Today Kyivans play with great dedication.
The White-Blues have already played one top-match – Ukrainian Super Cup against FC Shakhtar Donetsk. It seems that the forthcoming game against Metalist won’t be easier.
Unlike the match against Vorskla Serhiy Rebrov can count on more players, who missed pre-season training camps.
Dynamo have several high profile performers for almost every position. For example Vladyslav Kalytvyntsev has proved to be a worthy substitution for Andriy Yarmolenko.
As for attack, after Brown Ideye was signed by West Bromwich Albion FC and Dieumerci Mbokani picked up an injury Artem Kravets got a chance to approve himself.
Metalist: to regain team balance
Right before the start of the season Metalist faced another demarche of foreign players. Three Argentineans Jose Sosa, Alejandro Gomez and Jonathan Cristaldo decided to go back to their motherland motivating that with dangerous situation in Ukraine.
Four more performer have joined other teams: Marlos, Willian, Viacheslav Sharpar and Olexandr Noyok.
Only Denys Kulakov has been signed by Metalist.
Kharkiv side main problem is attack. They have only one striker – Volodymyr Homeniuk.
Statistics
Dynamo faced Metalist within the UPL 36 times. The White-Blues won 25 matches, lost six and played in a draw 5 times. Goal difference is 74:32.
In Kharkiv Kyivans won 13 times and lost only three. Two more games ended in a draw. Goal difference – 36:16.
Last face-to-face match
Ukrainian Premier League. Matchday 24
06.04.2014. Kyiv. NSC Olimpiyskyi. 39.236 spectators
FC Dynamo Kyiv – FC Metalist Kharkiv – 4:2 (2:1)
Goals: Harmash (8), Belhanda (40), Yarmolenko (80, pen.), Mbokani (87) – Edmar (25), Homeniuk (66).
