On Thursday, August 28, at the Arena Lublin stadium in Lublin, Poland, the second leg of the UEFA Europa League play-off round took place between Dynamo Kyiv and Maccabi Tel Aviv. To remind you, the first match, played a week ago in Bačka Topola, Serbia, ended in a 3:1 victory for the Israeli side.
Compared to the first match, Dynamo's coaching staff made three changes to the starting lineup. With Vivcharenko's suspension, Dubinchak took his place on the left flank of the defense, Buialskii replaced Shaparenko in midfield, and Guerrero started in place of Vanat, who did not even make the matchday squad.
With a two-goal deficit, Dynamo took control of the ball from the start and just 5 minutes into the game took the lead. After a corner kick on the right, Pikhalionok delivered a perfect cross to the penalty spot where Guerrero was left unmarked, and Eduardo headed the ball into the net – 1:0.
In the 10th minute the Panamanian forward had another great chance to score. Karavaiev launched the ball down the right wing to Guerrero, who advanced into the penalty box, but with a defender closing in, he missed the far corner, and Voloshyn couldn't get to the far post in time. Even the defenders joined the attack, and after a cross from Dubinchak on the left, Mykhavko had a header from the edge of the penalty area, but the ball went just wide of the post.
Overall the first half was full of fouls with players committing both tactical and reckless fouls. In terms of chances, Maccabi created their first real threat in the 36th minute when Peretz shot from outside the penalty area but Neshcheret was in the right position to save. Shortly before the break Dynamo played a great combination, and Karavaiev was played through into the box, but his shot at the far corner lacked accuracy.
In the final minute of the first half Maccabi could have equalized. Ehezkel made a run down the left and squared the ball to Madmon at the penalty spot, but Mykhavko was there to block the shot with his chest, clearing the danger.
The second half started with some uncomfortable moments for Dynamo. In the 53rd minute Revivo took a shot from outside the box, which Neshcheret saved, but the ball hit the post and bounced back into the field. A few minutes later Mykhavko made an error, passing the ball back to the goalkeeper too carelessly, but Madmon could not beat Neshcheret in the one-on-one situation.
At the other end, Guerrero broke free on a sharp angle towards the goal, but he was offside. Buiaskii tried a direct shot from a corner but it narrowly missed the target. In another episode, Pikhalionok intercepted Heitor's mistake near the opponent's goal, trying to set up Guerrero, but Sissokho managed to intercept the ball at the last moment.
In the final minutes Dynamo pressed Maccabi hard, with several crosses into the penalty area, but the score remained unchanged. The final score was a 1:0 victory for Dynamo, but unfortunately, this wasn't enough to overcome the 3:1 deficit from the first leg. As a result, Dynamo will continue their European campaign in the Group Stage of the UEFA Conference League.
UEFA Europa League, Play-off Round, Second Leg
Dynamo Kyiv – Maccabi Tel Aviv – 1:0 (1:0). First leg: 1:3
August 28, 2025. Lublin, Arena Lublin, 1,537 spectators.
Dynamo Kyiv: 35. Neshcheret, 20. Karavaiev, 40. Bilovar (4. Popov, 62; 6. Brazhko, 84), 32. Mykhavko, 44. Dubinchak, 8. Pikhalionok (10. Shaparenko, 84), 91. Mykhaylenko, 7. Yarmolenko (22. Kabayev, 62), 29. Buialskii (capt.), 9. Voloshyn, 39. Guerrero (99. Ponomarenko, 73).
Maccabi Tel Aviv: 90. Mishpati, 4. Heitor (13. Shlomo, 76), 5. Kamara, 6. Asante, 3. Revivo, 19. Madmon (98. Nicolaescu, 68), 42. Peretz (capt.), 17. Belić (23. Lederman, 86), 28. Sissokho (30. Noy, 46), 77. Davida, 11. Ehezkel.
Goal: Guerrero (5').
Yellow cards: Yarmolenko (33') – Sissokho (25'), Belić (58').
