On Tuesday, October 27, a Ukrainian Cup Round of 16 match between Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv took place at Arena Lviv in Lviv. It should be recalled that last season the opponents met at the same stage of the competition, although that match was played in Kyiv at the Valeriy Lobanovskyi Dynamo Stadium. On that occasion, the White-Blues celebrated a 2:1 victory. In May, Kyiv’s side went on to lift the Cup itself and entered this match as the reigning trophy holders.
Maciej Kędziorek’s men started the match very actively. Early on, they won possession in the opposition’s half with a high press. Ogundana broke into the penalty area from the right inside channel, got past Pedro Henrique, but Matviienko managed to prevent the Dynamo player from shooting with a sliding tackle.
The Dynamo players’ determination was evident in the eagerness with which every player entered challenges in both their own half and the opposition’s. Whenever a Shakhtar player received the ball, one or two Dynamo players immediately closed him down. Thanks to this activity, the Miners were unable to create anything near Dynamo’s goal for a long time. The only moments worth mentioning were Nazaryna’s free-kick from around 30 metres, which struck the post, and Marlon Gomes’ long-range effort, which posed no particular problems for Bushchan. Ocheretko produced a dangerous shot from the semicircle just outside the penalty area in the 24th minute, but the ball flew just over the crossbar.
Then, in the 31st minute, came a key incident that determined the subsequent course of the match. During a tussle inside Shakhtar’s penalty area, Ocheretko held Mykhavko by the shirt, and Taras, falling for the provocation, swung his arm at his opponent. After receiving advice from the VAR team assistants, the referee sent Dynamo centre-back off, leaving our team with ten men.
With a numerical advantage, Shakhtar increased the pressure, making active use of the flanks. In the 40th minute, Alisson unleashed a powerful free-kick from near the right corner of the penalty area, but Bushchan tipped the ball over the crossbar for a corner. A few minutes later, Nazaryna unleashed a long-range rocket, and this time Georgiy had to work hard to parry the ball.
In the 43rd minute, following a corner, Dynamo’s goalkeeper failed to clear the ball far enough from goal. The ball bounced around inside the penalty area, and Mendoza eventually struck an unstoppable shot while falling – 1:0.
In stoppage time at the end of the first half, the Miners had a chance to double their advantage. Pedro Henrique shot from outside the penalty area, Bushchan failed to hold the ball, but Marlon, following up on the rebound, could not push it past our goalkeeper. The teams therefore went into the break with Shakhtar leading 1:0.
After play resumed, the Dynamo players, understanding that they had to try to get back into the game even with ten men, pushed forward actively. Guerrero registered a shot on target – the first of the match, incidentally – but it posed no serious threat to Riznyk. Ogundana launched a promising attack at pace, but later, when receiving a return pass from a teammate, he strayed offside.
Nevertheless, Shakhtar had more possession, including in the opposition’s half, and created more chances. Pedro Henrique struck powerfully from near the left corner of the penalty area, but Bushchan dealt with the effort confidently. Marlon was just short of getting ahead of Brazhko and connecting with Alisson’s low cross from the right flank. Mendoza, having received a pass on the left side of the attack just outside the penalty area, shifted the ball onto his right foot but missed the far corner.
Whenever possible, Dynamo also tried to find opportunities to get closer to the opposition’s goal. Dubinchak advanced to the penalty area and waited for a teammate to join the attack, but eventually took a long-range shot himself, straight into Riznyk’s hands. During one of the subsequent attacks, Ogundana once again raced down the left flank, but his pass into the penalty area found no teammate.
In the 74th minute, Dynamo conceded a second goal. Alisson skilfully beat Dubinchak on the right flank and delivered a delicate cross to the edge of the six-yard box, where Izaki arrived unmarked and headed the ball home from close range – 2:0.
A little later, his teammates found Izaki inside the penalty area again with a long pass. He controlled the ball expertly, but Dynamo’s defenders prevented him from getting a shot away. In the 84th minute, Alisson delivered another cross from the right flank, similar to the one that led to the second goal, but this time Mendoza struck the ball first time and sent it well over the goal. The final score was established in the 87th minute: Izaki received a pass on the edge of the penalty area and managed to play the ball into Alisson’s path, and the latter shot past Bushchan – 3:0.
In stoppage time, Kyiv’s side were reduced to nine men. Thiare committed a foul while trying to stop Alisson’s run down the right flank, and after reviewing the VAR footage, the referee decided to send off another White-Blues centre-back. After the final whistle, Guerrero was also shown a red card because he was unhappy with the way Shakhtar’s players began celebrating their victory.
Thus, Dynamo’s campaign in this season’s Ukrainian Cup comes to an end at the Round of 16 stage. The White-Blues will play their next match away against Kryvbas next Monday, November 2, in the 11th round of the Ukrainian Premier League.
Ukrainian Cup, Round of 16
Shakhtar – Dynamo – 3:0 (1:0)
October 27, 2026. Lviv, Arena Lviv Stadium
Shakhtar: 31. Riznyk – 17. Tobias, 5. Bondar (18. Gram, 88), 22. Matviienko, 13. Henrique (16. Azarov, 76) – 29. Nazaryna, 27. Ocheretko (11. Newertton, 76), 6. Marlon (14. Isaque, 63), 30. Alisson, 77. Mendoza – 9. Elias (2. Traore, 63).
Dynamo: 1. Bushchan – 5. Sych (18. Tymchyk, 65), 94. Kędziora, 32. Mykhavko, 44. Dubinchak – 6. Brazhko, 91. Mykhailenko (22. Kabaiev, 77), 10. Shaparenko (8. Pikhalonok, 77), 9. Voloshyn (66. Thiare, 35), 16. Ogundana – 11. Ponomarenko (39. Guerrero, 46).
Goals: Mendoza (43), Isaque (74), Alisson (87).
Booked: Pedro Henrique (15), Bondar (17), Ocheretko (31), Marlon (37), Newertton (80).
Sent off: Mykhavko (31), Thiare (90+2), Guerrero (after the final whistle).
