Having outplayed Fenerbahce SK and SK Sturm Graz, FC Dynamo Kyiv reached the Champions League qualification play-off round.
At this stage the White-Blues face the Portuguese side SL Benfica. The first leg took place on August 17 at the Stadion Miejski im. Wladyslawa Krola in Lodz, Poland. Benfica succeeded 2:0.
Visitors started the game more aggressively while Kyivans were keeping the lower profile. Early in the match the teams exchanged chances. Ramos attempted from unpromising angle. Besedin unleashed good strike, but goalkeeper coped with that, besides Dynamo forward was offside. Anyway, Benfica finished their following attack with a goal. Gilberto hit the target from inside the box having received a pass from Joao Mario.
Dynamo could equalize right away as Tsyhankov shot from the right side of the penalty area, but keeper parried that too. Then the White-Blues took a few set pieces that didn’t result in anything. Joao Mario attempted from distance.
Later Tsyhankov was close to equalizer again, but sent the ball a bit wide. Benfica were luckier. Neres intercepted and passed to Ramos, who doubled the score.
As the second half started, Neres got into a promising position, but Bushchan was there. Ukrainian fans cheered Dynamo throughout the match and created really warm atmosphere.
Gradually Benfica got more active while Kyivans focused on counterattacks. Yaremchuk and Rafa Silva crossed into the penalty area, but both attempts were blocked. Karavayev aimed at the right corner, but goalkeeper was there for his team. Generally, neither side had a lot of opportunities until Karavayev unleashed a decent strike, but Vlachodimos saved again.
Vanat could pull one back, but his shot was blocked. So, it’s 2:0 for Benfica in the first leg.
The return match will take place on August 23 in Portugal.
Champions League. Qualification play-off round, first leg
FC Dynamo Kyiv – SL Benfica – 0:2
17.08.2022. Lodz. Stadion Miejski im. Wladyslawa Krola
Dynamo: Bushchan, Kedziora, Zabarnyi, Popov (Syrota, 80), Dubinchak (Vivcharenko, 63), Andriyevskyi, Shepelev (Tsarenko, 74), Shaparenko, Buialskyi, Tsyhankov (c) (Karavayev, 63), Besedin (Vanat, 74).
Benfica: Vlachodimos, Gilberto (Bah, 69), Otamendi (c), Morato, Grimaldo, Florentino, Fernandes, Neres (Henrique Araujo, 63), Rafa Silva (Chiquinho, 84), Joao Mario, Goncalo Ramos (Yaremchuk, 63).
Goals: Gilberto (10), Goncalo Ramos (37).
Booked: Andriyevskti (40).
