FC Dynamo Kyiv started the Europa League campaign in Portuguese town of Vila do Conde located 25 km from Porto, where they faced Rio Ave FC.
The turf was of bad quality, besides rain made things even worse. Maybe that’s why Olexandr Shovkovskyi picked up an injury during the warm-up and thus Olexandr Rybka took his place.
It should be mentioned that 19-year-old centre back Mykyta Burda was among first eleven.
Kyivans started the game very actively. Dragovic could open the score, but opponent blocked his shot from 14-meter distance. Later Rio Ave keeper parried shots unleashed by Vida and Sydorchuk.
Anyway 20 minutes into the match Yarmolenko obtained the ball on the right flank, moved to the center and hit the far bottom corner. Five minutes later Dynamo doubled the score. Belhanda netted the ball from the penalty area line.
After that the White-Blues let the home side control the ball.
If anyone doubted whether Serhiy Rebrov’s men would win the game Kravets took the issue off the table 20 minutes before the time. Cassio cleared Belhanda’s shot, after which Artem got the ball, eluded goalkeeper and hit the open goal.
Thus the first Europa League first fixture of the season has turned out to be a success for Dynamo.
2014/2015 Europa League, group stage, matchday 1
Rio Ave – Dynamo – 0:3 (0:2)
Rio Ave: Cassio, Gouano, Lionn, Tiago Pinto, Marcelo, Tarantini (c), Diego Lopes (Wakaso, 77), Renan Bressan (Jebor, 64), Pedro Moreira, Boateng, Ukra (Gonçalves, 81).
Dynamo: Rybka, Vida, Makarenko, Dragovic, Burda (Selin, 86), Sydorchuk (Miguel, 67), Belhanda, Rybalka, Yarmolenko (c), Lens (Kalytvyntsev, 79), Kravets.
Goals: Yarmolenko (20), Belhanda (25), Kravets (70).
Booked: Renan Bressan (31), Jebor (89) – Kravets (22), Vida (47), Burda (59).
On September 18 FC Dynamo Kyiv will face Rio Ave FC in Vila do Conde within the Europa League group stage matchday 1.
Dynamo: inhospitable Portugal
One can assume that the forthcoming game will be difficult for the White-Blues as Kyivans rarely succeed in Portugal.
Dynamo won only one away match against Portuguese clubs. They defeated FC Porto within the 2008/09 Champions League – 1:0. One more game ended in a draw. As for other fixtures – our team lost them.
Oleh Husiev netted two goals against Portuguese teams, which is the best result in todays Dynamo. In general he has 17 well-placed shots to his name in euro cups (84 appearances).
The White-Blues most experienced player is 39-year-old Olexandr Shovkovskyi, who has 126 appearances on European arena to his name.
Dynamo head coach Serhiy Rebrov has mentioned that Rio Ave players have good technical skills, but they don’t like when their opponents control the ball.
According to Rebrov it’s quite typical for Portuguese clubs.
Rio Ave: more than meets the eye
Rio Ave are about to make their debut in euro cups, but this team can definitely become a surprise.
They have three internationals in their squad. Renan Bressan has already netted 3 goals for Belarus in 17 matches. Forward Yonathan del Valle has made 10 appearances for Venezuela and 23-year-old Ahmed Hassan Mahgoub or just Koka featured for Egypt three times.
Speaking about other interesting characters one can mention FC Porto trainee Andre Monteiro also known as Ukra (pictured).
Start of the current season has really become a success for Pedro Martins’ (pictured) men.
First of all Rio Ave have reached the Europa League group stage. Secondly they’ve won three games out of four in Primeira Liga (one more match has ended in a draw).
