The first leg of the UEFA Cup semi-final tie between Ukrainian arch-rivals FC Dynamo Kyiv and FC Shakhtar Donetsk ended in a 1-1 draw in Kyiv on Thursday.
As expected the stadium was full with the Presidents past and present also supporting Ukrainian teams in the VIP box. Yuriy Semin made only one change from the Dynamo side that beat league opponents FC Kharkiv at the weekend, Carlos Corrêa replacing Oleh Husyev in midfield. Meantime, Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu named a full-strength lineup in Kyiv, with five players one booking away from suspension.
The White-Blues, who are 12 points clear of their semi-final opponents in domestic championship, controlled much of the game and took advantage after 22 minutes when Dynamo striker Artem Milevskyy slid into the area to poke Oleksandr Aliyev’s free kick past Shakhtar goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov. Nonetheless, the hosts squandered some other chances to increase their lead before the interval.
Changes were made by both sides at half-time. Tiberiu Ghioane replaced Ismaël Bangoura while Shakhtar’s Luiz Adriano was substituted by Oleksandr Gladkyy. However, it was another replacement, Willian, who made a contribution to the visitors’ second-half goal. Receiving a Jadson’s pass, he broke into the box and directed the ball to Fernandinho who hit an equaliser in the 68th minute - 1-1.
The decisive match will take place in Donetsk on 7 May. The winner of the Ukrainian derby will meet the winner of an all-German clash between Werder Bremen and Hamburger SV.
UEFA Cup 2008/09. Semi-final. First leg.
DYNAMO – SHAKHTAR – 1:1 (1:0)
Dynamo: 31.Bogush, 3.Betão, 5.Vukojević, 6.Sablić, 7.Corrêa (19.Cernat, 83), 8.Aliyev, 10.Bangoura (4.Ghioane, 46), 25.Milevskyy, 30.El Kaddouri – cap, 36.Ninković, 37.Yussuf.
Shakhtar: 30.Pyatov, 3.Hübschman, 4.Duljaj, 5.Kucher, 7.Fernandinho, 8.Jadson (18.Lewandowski, 76), 11.Ilsinho (22.Willian, 56), 17.Luiz Adriano (21.Gladkyy, 46), 26.Raţ, 27.Chygrynskyy, 33.Srna – cap.
Goals: Milevskyy (22) – Fernandinho (68).
www.fcdynamo.kiev.ua
