FC Dynamo Kyiv hosted Hungarian side Ferencvarosi TC at the NSC Olimpiyskyi within the Champions League group stage matchday 6.
Both sides had one point before this game, so this battle was decisive in terms of qualification for the Europa League.
The match started carefully as a price of a mistake was incredibly high. Visitors were mostly in possession, but didn’t actually move forward.
Dynamo, who decided to focus on counterattacks, had the first attempt in the 7th minute. Dibusz cleared the ball after cross from Harmash to Verbic.
Halfway through the first half visitors had a good chance after inaccurate pass by Kedziora, but Tokmac Nguen missed from a promising position.
Generally both sides were careful in the first half and didn’t give opponents much space. Before the break Hungarian team took several corners which didn’t result in anything.
After the break Dynamo got more aggressive in terms of pressure and attacking actions. Still visitors also had chances. In the 55th minute Bushchan saved our team after strike by Nguen. The White-Blues responded with the shot by Tsyhankov from inside the box, but Dibusz was there for his team.
And then, one hour into the game, the crucial episode happened. Referee awarded free kick for Dynamo, Carlos de Pena put a cross into the penalty area from the left side, Tomasz Kedziora touched the ball after which Denys Popov headed it in!
In a minute Bushchan parried a decent shot by Uzuni.
Before the final part of the game both Mircea Lucescu and Serhiy Rebrov made several substitutions, but that didn’t help visitors a lot. Kyivans didn’t let them get back into the game by defending orderly till the final whistle.
So, it’s 1:0. The first goal of Denys Popov in euro cups takes Dynamo to the Europa League round of 32!
Champions League, group stage, matchday 6
08.12.2020. Kyiv, NSC Olimpiyskyi
FC Dynamo Kyiv – Ferencvarosi TC – 1:0 (0:0)
Dynamo: Bushchan, Kedziora, Popov, Zabarnyi, Mykolenko, Sydorchuk (C) (Andriyevskyi, 90+2), Shaparenko, Tsyhankov (Liedniev, 86), Harmash (Shepelev, 70), de Pena (Supriaha, 70), Verbic (Rodrigues, 86).
Ferencvarosi: Dibusz, Lovrencsics (C) (Botka, 80), Blazic, Dvali, Heister, Laidouni, Kharatin (Isael, 74), Somalia, Uzuni (Baturina, 73), Zubkov (Mak, 80), Nguen (Boli, 86).
Goal: Popov (60).
Booked: de Pena (27), Harmash (37) – Laidouni (45), Kharatin (47), Blazic (59), Isael (84).
On December 8 FC Dynamo Kyiv will host the Hungarian side Ferencvarosi TC within the Champions League group stage matchday 6.
TEAMS’ PATH
- Having finished second in the UPL last season, Dynamo started the Champions League campaign with the third qualifying round. Mircea Lucescu’s men defeated AZ Alkmaar at the home ground (2:0) and then outplayed KAA Gent in two-match duel (2:1 away, 3:0 at home).
- At the group stage the White-Blues haven’t won yet. They’ve suffered two defeats both against Juventus and Barcelona and played in a draw against Ferencvarosi away.
- Despite that Kyivans still have a chance to qualify for the Europa League knock-out stage. To do that they need to defeat Ferencvarosi at home or play in a draw (0:0, 1:1 or 2:2).
- Ferencvarosi won the 2019/2020 domestic league. Serhiy Rebrov’s men gained 76 points and left Fehervar FC 13 points behind.
- At the group stage Ferencvarosi have also earned only one point so far – as they hosted Dynamo. They’ve suffered two defeats against both against Juventus and Barcelona.
LINEUP ISSUES
Dynamo
Mykyta Burda, Olexandr Tymchyk, Nazariy Rusyn and Volodymyr Kostevych are still injured. Vitaliy Buialskyi has joined them as he’s got rib fracture. Fortunately a number of players were tested negative for COVID-19 recently.
Ferencvarosi
Visitors hardly have any lineup issues at all. Only defender Eldar Civic was injured recently and it’s questionable whether he’ll take the field.
DOMESTIC LEAGUES PERFORMANCES
Dynamo
The White-Blues have gained 29 points in 12 UPL games (W-9, D-2, L-1, goal difference – 23:8) and one matchday before the winter break they’re league leaders with FC Shakhtar Donetsk three points behind.
Ferencvarosi
After 11 matchdays Ferencvarosi are domestic league leaders with Fehervar lacking 7 points behind them (W-9, D-2, goal difference – 24:5).
TECHNICAL DATA
FC Dynamo Kyiv – Ferencvarosi TC
December 8, 22:00, NSC Olimpiyskyi
Broadcaster – Football 1
