Dynamo Kyiv drew Arsenal 1-1 in Wednesday's UEFA Champions League Group G opener.
Dynamo were making full use of the pitch during the first period and tryed to utilise a mixture of short and long balls. At the same time Emmanuel Adebayor, Robin van Persie and Cesc Fàbregas all had good chances to score for the north London club. But thus far there was no notable breakthrough.
At the start of the second half, the White-Blues almost snatched the lead when Bangoura'pass found Eremenko on the edge of the box and the midfielder, who is on loan from Udinese Calcio, shot against a post. The counter-attack ended up in Almunia's arms.
In the 64th minute Ismaël Bangoura turned the match in favour of the hosts. The Guinean striker scored the opener from the penalty spot after Bacary Sagna fouled Ognjen Vukojević in the box.
With just two minutes remaining, Arsenal captain William Gallas equalized the score and gave his club a first UEFA Champions League point. Walcott drove in a low cross that reached Gallas, who hit a low angled cross to the far corner of the net.
Dynamo Kyiv have five group stage games to go. The Kyivers will continue their Group G campaign at Fenerbahçe SK on the 30th of September.
The UEFA Champions League 2008/2009. Group stage. Matchday 1
DYNAMO – ARSENAL – 1:1 (0:0)
Kyiv, Lobanovskyy Dynamo Stadium. Attendance: 17 000
Kick-off 21:45
Referee: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain);
Assistant referees: Jesús Calvo Guadamuro, Luis Alberto Gutierrez Perez (both from Spain).
Dynamo (Kyiv): 31.Bogush, 3.Betão, 5.Vukojević, 8.Aliyev, 10.Bangoura (22.Kravets, 90), 11.Eremenko, 15.Diakhaté, 17.Mykhalyk, 26.Nesmachnyy - cap, 36.Ninković, 37.Yussuf (32.Asatiani, 90).
Arsenal (London, England): 1.Almunia, 3.Sagna (27.Eboué, 78), 4.Fàbregas, 5.Kolo Touré, 10.Gallas - cap, 11.van Persie (12.Vela, 84), 14.Walcott, 15.Denilson, 17.Song (26.Bendtner, 70), 22.Clichy, 25.Adebayor.
Goals: Bangoura (64, on pen.) – Gallas (88).
Booked: Nesmachnyy (57), Bangoura (71), Vukojević (82), Diakhaté (90+2) – Sagna (62).
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