Strong-willed victories by Dynamo Kyiv and LNZ Cherkasy, the first quick goal in the championship scored 42 seconds into the match, Chornomorets' first win, Shakhtar's return to winning ways, Left Bank's continued fall to the bottom of the table, Zorya losing its leadership position, an unexpected leader - this is how the second round of the Ukrainian Premier League went. UNN decided to tell you the results of the round, new achievements of the round, and what the next round of the UPL will be remembered for.
Details
Chornomorets 1-0 Kolos
The next round of the UPL started on Friday with a match in Odesa between local side Chornomorets and visiting Kolos Kovalivka. The motivation of both teams was understandable, as Odesa had lost two matches in a row, and Kovalivka, having drawn two matches in a row, could have taken advantage of Chornomorets' situation, but it was not to be.
The match was not rich in scoring chances, as evidenced by the match statistics - 5 shots by Chornomorets against 4 by Kolos - 2:2 on target. In the first half, Kolos could have taken the lead, but the Giant lacked accuracy. In the 35th minute, Chornomorets scored a goal quite unexpectedly, as it was the first chance of the Odesa team in the match.
Kirill Popov brought Dmytro Khoblenko to the striking position with an elegant pass, the forward set up experienced defender Mykyta Burda on the "fifth point" and scored past the goalkeeper and Bondarenko, who was lying in the box - the first goal of Chornomorets in this UPL draw - 1: 0.
Until the end of the match, neither team managed to score at least one more goal, although Kolos could have scored in the 70th minute after Odesa's "bring" in their own penalty area.
This is Chornomorets' first victory in this UPL draw, breaking Odesa's losing streak of 4 games. Dmytro Khoblenko also broke Chornomorets' goalless streak, which lasted almost 400 minutes.
Of course, we are very pleased. Of course, we realized the strength of the opponent. I congratulate my guys and the whole of Odesa, the fans, the management. I also congratulate myself because this is the first victory after two defeats. Although we analyzed the matches, the games were not bad, but somewhere a little bit was missing
Dmytro Khoblenko
Vorskla 2: 0 Obolon
Another match on Friday was played in Poltava between local Vorskla and visiting Obolon from Kyiv. The match turned out to be quite interesting at times, as evidenced by the statistics of shots - 7 for Vorskla against 16 for Obolon, of which 7 were on goal, but unfortunately, statistics do not play football for the Brewers.
Vorskla took the lead in the 23rd minute. Oleksandr Sklyar scored from a distance, Nazariy Fedorivskyi deflected it, but right on the foot of the running Ivan Nesterenko - 1: 0.
In the 60th minute, Obolon equalized thanks to Serhiy Sukhanov's effort, but the referee canceled the goal because the Brewers forward allegedly played with his hand in the episode. However, the replay shows that the ball hit the defender's hand, and Sukhanov did not touch the ball at all.
After 9 minutes, after cutting off Obolon's defender, Ibrahim Kane put an end to the match, doubling Vorskla's lead - 2-0.
"Vorskla managed to win their 280th victory in the Ukrainian league, although who knows how the match would have developed if the referee had scored Obolon's goal.
Was there a hand? Does it look like it? Of course not. All of Ukraine is calling and writing now: "The clean goal was canceled". I just want to ask: "How is it interpreted?" and so on. We have had so many such matches. Of course, we scored the ball, the heat of the game, it was possible to break somewhere. What questions do you have for the guys? They played well, and according to the analysis - what I just watched - they struck enough shots, but their accuracy suffers
Zorya 1: 2 Oleksandriya
Luhansk's Zorya and Oleksandriya from the Kirovohrad region's city of the same name played another high-scoring match at Lobanovsky Stadium on Saturday. The Luhansk team, who were unbeaten with two wins out of two, lost to Oleksandriya, allowing Ruslan Rotan's team to lead the standings for a few hours.
"Oleksandriya took the lead in the 23rd minute - Bezerra played with Oleksandr Filippov, the latter brought Bezerra to the striking position with an elegant pass and shot into the bottom corner from outside the penalty area - 1: 0.
Within 10 minutes, Oleksandriya doubled their lead. "Oleksandriya received a free kick, and Kyrylo Kovalets scored with a tricky shot under the wall, which bounced. Luhansk did not expect such a blow - 2: 0.
"Zorya managed to score one goal in the second half opener. After a corner kick, Jordan found himself unguarded in the penalty area, and he just had to hit the goal, which he did - 2-1.
Despite dangerous moments on the part of both teams, the match ended with a 1-2 result in favor of Oleksandriya.
It is worth noting that Rotan's team has made a good start in this UPL draw, not only winning all its matches in this UPL draw, but also increasing its unbeaten streak to seven matches.
Before the match, a pleasant episode happened for Ruslan Rotan. The UAF thanked Rotan for his work as the manager of the youth and Olympic teams.
"59 matches! We thank the head coach and his assistants," the UAF said .
Polissya 1:1 Ingulets
The second match on Saturday was played by Zhytomyr's Polissia and Petrov's Ingulets, which, fortunately, resulted in a draw for Ingulets, as Polissia completely outplayed Ingulets. The fate of the match was decided in the first half.
"Polissia seized control of the ball, but created almost no chances at Palamarchuk's goal. "Ingulets opened the scoring at the end of the first half. After a corner kick, 19-year-old Volodymyr Vilivald closed the canopy at the near post -1: 0.
"Polissya managed to get back into the game in the time added to the first half. Oleksandr Nazarenko ran away from two Ingulets defenders at speed, and after throwing Vivald, the author of the first goal of the match, away with his body, beat the goalkeeper and rolled the ball into the empty net. This goal can compete in beauty with Pikhalenko's goal against Karpaty.
In the second half, Zhytomyr attacked almost all the time, but Palamarchuk became the main hero, not allowing them to score again. Although the match turned out to be interesting in terms of scoring chances, it ended in a draw - 1:1.
Zhytomyr extended their scoring streak in the elite division of the Ukrainian Premier League to seven matches. This is a new record for the club in the UPL. Polissia also extended their unbeaten streak of matches, which lasts 7 games, and Ingulets extended their winless streak on the road to 4 games.
Karpaty 1: 3 Dynamo
The final match of Saturday was played between Lviv's Karpaty and Kyiv's Dynamo. This match also turned out to be quite interesting in terms of scoring chances, with Oleksandr Pikhalenko's goal and Denys Ustymenko's canceled goal being the most noteworthy.
By the way, Karpaty scored the fastest goal in this UPL draw so far. Already in the 42nd second of the match, the Lions took the lead - Oleg Ocheretko from the goalkeeper's area in one touch closed the pass of Yevhen Pidlepenets from the right flank.
In the middle of the first half, Kyiv scored a goal - in the 23rd minute, Oleksandr Pikhalonok received the ball, spun around and scored a great long-range shot under the crossbar. Pikhalonok's goal can at least claim to be the goal of the round, and possibly of the entire season.
Oleksandr Shovkovskyi's team dominated the entire match and could have taken the lead, but managed to double their advantage only in the second half. In the 58th minute, substitute Mykola Shaparenko put Vladyslav Vanat one-on-one with the goalkeeper, who scored in the far corner - 2: 1.
In the 80th minute, Karpaty managed to equalize. Stenio cut off three Dynamo players and put Ustymenko one-on-one with Heorhiy Bushchan. Ustymenko elegantly threw the ball over the Kyiv goalkeeper, but the referee canceled the goal due to the obvious offside of the Lviv forward.
In stoppage time, in the 90+2nd minute, Vanat put Andriy Yarmolenko on the attacking position, who was mowed down in the penalty area by Lviv goalkeeper Oleksandr Kemkin - a penalty that Yarmolenko converted.
Kyiv won the 30th anniversary match under Oleksandr Shovkovskyi, and Vladyslav Vanat scored his 30th goal in the UPL.
Vladyslav Vanat and Oleksandr Shovkovskyi
A very difficult victory. In general, matches with Karpaty, wherever they take place, are very interesting. We had certain circumstances, first of all, logistics adds some difficulties. Because of this, we gave some players a chance to rest, some came off the bench. The score could have been 2:2, 5:1, or more. Football is a game where the one who realizes more opportunities wins. We created enough chances to finish the game more calmly. But we ended the game the way we did, and there were good opportunities for swift counterattacks that we had to realize
LNZ 3:1 Rukh
Sunday's matches in Cherkasy were opened by the local LNZ, which was visited by Rukh from Vynnyky. Another match that pleased the fans with a goal parade. Both teams started the match actively, exchanging dangerous moments, but the goal had to wait for 50 minutes.
Rukh striker Ilya Kvasnytsia, who was not interfered with, passed the ball on the flank, moved to the center and scored a shot into the bottom right corner. There are questions about the defenders and supporters who gave Kvasnytsia an easy pass to the goal, but the score was 1-0 in favor of Rukh. By the way, Kvasnytsia scored the 10th anniversary goal in the UPL.
Cherkasy scored in the 73rd minute. LNZ's newcomer Momo beat two opponents in the corner of the field and passed to the center to Yashar, who left the ball for Till to shoot. The Luxemburger actually shot the visitors' goal - 1:1.
In the 81st minute, Gennadiy Pasich struck a billiard shot from outside the penalty area, putting the ball in the far corner - LNZ takes the lead - 2: 1.
In the 90+6th minute, Roman Didyk mowed down Yashari in his own penalty area. The referee awarded a penalty kick, which Yashari converted - 3: 1 in favor of LNZ.
Veres 0: 2 Kryvbas
The second match on Sunday was opened by Veres Rivne and Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih. This match was memorable not only for the goals scored but also for two penalties. Yuriy Vernydub's team took the lead in the 12th minute of the match. Daniel Sosa shot on goal, the goalkeeper saved it, but Prince Adu was the first to finish - 1-0 in favor of Kryvbas.
In the 28th minute, the Rivne club was left in the minority as Maksym Smiyan earned a second yellow card and a sending off. After the break, the teams were equalized - in the 51st minute, Oleksandr Romanchuk received a straight red card after disrupting a promising Veres attack.
In the 81st minute, Kryvyi Rih scored for the second time. Timur Stetskov successfully converted a penalty kick, putting an end to this match - 2:0 in favor of Kryvbas.
Veres has lost 4 matches in a row to Kryvbas.
In addition to the suspensions, the match was remembered for another scandal on the part of Kryvbas. Kryvbas players refused to give flash interviews.
"I have the most questions for the Kryvbas players who never made it to the flash zone. Why? Who the f*ck knows, really. For the first time in my 8 years in sports journalism, no players from the winning team came to me. And no, the problem is not in the press office, they are great guys and girls, and I am very grateful for their help. What I always lack in Ukrainian sports is mutual respect. Mutual respect between the athlete and the spectator, between the athlete and those who organize the broadcast, work directly at the match, and try to "sell" the match. Finally, between an athlete and a journalist who will take about 4 minutes of your time after the game," said Kateryna Godunova, a journalist at UPL TV.
She noted that the vice president of Kryvbas said that "the guys are frankly f**ked up."
I understand them, and so does the film crew. We are all f**ked up. But let's be honest: there are people who are much more fucked up. And these are not the players, not me, and not the film crew. I want Ukrainian sports, in particular football, to stop being so infantile. Let's respect each other. And first of all, those for whom this match is taking place. Amen
Left Bank 0: 1 Shakhtar
The final match of Sunday was played between Kyiv's Left Bank and Donetsk's Shakhtar. Kyiv looked good, but still failed to get the first points in the match.
Marino Pušić's men scored the only goal of the match in the second half. In the 63rd minute, Danylo Sikan closed Pedrino's pass from the left side of the penalty area from close range.
By the way, Sikan played his 100th match in the UPL, and his goal also brought Marino Pushic his 10th away win as the Miners' captain. In his 100th match in the UPL, goalkeeper Riznyk helped Shakhtar to their 130th match without conceding a goal in the Ukrainian Premier League.
In addition, the Pitmen's head coach Pushic celebrated his 53rd birthday on that day.
The table after the third round is as follows: