On the first day of spring FC Dynamo Kyiv played the first Ukrainian Premier League match after winter break. FC Metalist Kharkiv opposed worthy, but Kyivans won 3:0.
The situation in Metalist camp was the main newsmaker before the game. 18 players addressed to club direction because of unpaid wages and refused to go to Kyiv. The head coach Ihor Rakhaev could count mostly on reservists and only on several experienced players.
Serhiy Rebrov had absolutely different problems. Serhiy Sydorchuk and Miguel were injured, but considering the competing in the team there are performers to replace them. Yarmolenko and Lens played as wingers while Rybalka, Buialskyi and Belhanda featured in the midfield. Mbokani was the finisher.
The only thing that gave Kharkiv side supporters hope was youngsters’ ambitiousness and willingness to use their chance. Still they spent the whole game in the defensive half.
It was quite obvious that the opener was just the matter of time. The most interesting part of the match started after the break. 52 minutes into the game Lens put a cross into the box and Belhanda netted the ball!
Vitaliy Buialskyi was in the starting lineup in the second match in a row. He doesn’t lack energy and gains confidence. As for his skills, he demonstrates them on the field. 79 minutes into the game Andriy Yarmolenko found Buialskyi inside the penalty area, Vitaliy eluded goalkeeper and hit the target!
Right before the time another Dynamo hope Yevhen Chumak deserved applause. Jeremain Lens put a fabulous low cross into the box and our youngster scored.
Ukrainian Premier League. Matchday 15
1.3.2015. Kyiv. NSC Olimpiyskyi. 15374
FC Dynamo Kyiv – FC Metalist Kharkiv – 3:0 (0:0)
Dynamo: Shovkovskyi (C), Antunes, Dragovic, Danilo Silva, Vida, Rybalka, Buialskyi, Lens, Yarmolenko, Belhanda (Chumak, 84), Mbokani.
Metalist: Pohorilyi (C), Boichuk, Ishchenko, Kovtun, Osman, Pryiomov, Bobko (Antonov, 86), Tkachuk (Barylko, 87), Kovalchuk, Averianov (Syzyi, 58), Chehurko.
Goals: Belhanda (52), Buialskyi (79), Chumak (90+4).
Booked: Rybalka (45), Mbokani (89), Dragovic (90+3) – Tkachuk (43), Pryiomov (45), Kovalchuk (51), Kovtun (85).
On March 1 at 19:30 FC Dynamo Kyiv will start the second part of the Ukrainian Premier League season at the NSC Olimpiyskyi.
Dynamo: fight on three fronts
The game against Metalist will be the third official fixture for Dynamo after the winter break. Two previous matches have proved that Kyivans are ready for the second part of the season.
The White-Blues must be in good shape, but on the other hand the battle against French side EA Guingamp was quite exhausting.
Besides Serhiy Rebrov’s men have some losses. Serhiy Sydorchuk has suffered serious injury. He’ll miss the first spring game. Miguel was injured on Thursday. Denys Harmash has reconditioned, but he can feature only for the reserve team so far. Still the game against Guingamp has demonstrated that youngsters can play successfully.
The return of striker Dieumerci Mbokani is also good news. He didn’t take the field as Dynamo opposed Guingamp, but maybe he will in the match against Metalist. Anyway finisher Lukasz Teodorczyk is in good condition, so there’s competition among forwards.
Andriy Yarmolenko and Younes Belhanda, who’ve got three-match suspension in the Europa League each, must be really willing to benefit the team in the UPL.
Metalist: more squad changes
On Sunday quite unusual Metalist squad will play in Kyiv.
First of all it should be mentioned that almost all foreigners left the team in winter. Those, who haven’t done it yet, are going to as soon as they find new clubs.
Some players, like Edmar, want to feature for Metalist, but they are totally not okay with backdated salaries. They’ll boycott forthcoming matches against FC Dynamo Kyiv and FC Shakhtar Donetsk if direction doesn’t solve this problem.
Anyway Kharkiv side head coach Ihor Rakhaev has stated that his team is ready to oppose Dynamo.
In the reserve teams match mostly U-19 players represented Metalist. It’s expected that the Yellow-Blues reservists will perform at the NSC Olimpiyskyi.
Still Ihor Rakhaev can count on several experienced players in Kyiv. Metalist have signed six performers, who’ve had the training camp in Turkey with the team. These are Croatian defender Jurica Buljat, Portuguese midfielder David Caiado, goalkeeper Serhiy Pohorilyi, defender Mykola Ishchenko, halfback Serhiy Nazarenko and forward Volodymyr Pryiomov.
Face-to-face matches statistics
31 match: 15 Dynamo wins, 12 draws, 4 Metalist wins; goal difference – 41:24 for the White-Blues.
On Dynamo home arenas – 15 matches: 9 Dynamo wins, 5 draws, 1 Metalist win; goal difference – 25:12 for the White-Blues.
