On Thursday, July 9, the 2026/2027 season officially began for Kyiv's "Dynamo". In the first match of the 1st qualifying round of the Europa League, Ihor Kostyuk's wards hosted Romanian "Universitatea" from Cluj-Napoca in Lublin, reports UNN with reference to FC "Dynamo".
The "blue-and-whites" started the meeting actively and from the first minutes seized the initiative, controlling the ball and regularly threatening the opponent's goal. Already in the 7th minute, Pikhalyonok headed in a cross from Redushko from the left flank, but shot straight at the goalkeeper. A minute later, the same Pikhalyonok made another shot – this time from outside the penalty area, but defenders deflected the ball for a corner.
The nominal hosts continued to press, while the Romanian team almost did not create chances near Dynamo's goal. The Dynamo players were closest to opening the score in the first half in the 19th minute: Shaparenko from the left flank of the penalty area backheeled the ball to Redushko towards the goal, he immediately passed under Pikhalyonok's shot, but his strike went past the far post.
A little later, Brazhko shot from a free kick over the goal, and the visitors' defenders successfully blocked dangerous crosses from Voloshyn and Redushko from different flanks. In the second half of the half, Dynamo did not reduce the pressure. In the 36th minute, the visitors created their most dangerous moment before the break: Makalu crossed from the right flank, Mendy shot from the center of the penalty area, but Neshcheret confidently won the duel.
The Kyivans quickly returned the game to the opponent's goal. First, Ponomarenko shot from the left flank of the penalty area, but his attempt was blocked by defenders, and later Shaparenko, waiting for a rebound after Voloshyn's cross from the right flank, shot from the center of the penalty area over the goal.
In stoppage time of the first half, Dynamo had another opportunity to open the score. Pikhalyonok in one touch brought Dubinchak to a shooting position on the left flank of the penalty area, but after a ricochet, the ball went past the near post.
After the break, Dynamo again seized the initiative. Brazhko dangerously shot from outside the penalty area, but goalkeeper Mihail handled the shot. Soon, Ponomarenko could not properly finish a cross from a corner, and then a dangerous cross from Pikhalyonok from the right flank was intercepted by defenders.
In the 55th minute, the visitors responded with their chance: Kubish broke into the penalty area from the left flank, but Mykhavko timely blocked the shot, deflecting the ball for a corner. In response, the Kyivans continued to look for ways to the opponent's goal. In particular, Ponomarenko in a fall finished Voloshyn's cross from the right flank, but shot past the goal.
Within two minutes, from the 67th to the 68th, the Dynamo players created two excellent chances to finally open the score. First, after a pass from Mykhavko, Buyalskyi shot from outside the penalty area – Mihail parried the ball. And a minute later, Shaparenko with a fine pass found Ponomarenko at the near corner of the six-yard box, but the forward again failed to beat the goalkeeper of the Romanian team.
In the 79th minute, the crossbar came to the visitors' aid when Dubinchak played to the left flank of the penalty area, and Shaparenko with a turn hit the goal frame. A few minutes later, Dubinchak himself struck the ball from a long distance, but shot next to the left post.
In the 84th minute, the unexpected happened – due to rolling blackouts in Lublin, the lights went out. The forced pause stretched for five minutes, and after the resumption of play in the final minutes, Redushko was closest to scoring, but his shot from the area in front of the penalty box went over the goal.
As a result, the final whistle recorded a goalless draw. The return match will take place in a week, on July 16, in Cluj-Napoca.