On Thursday, July 9, the 2026/27 season officially got underway for Kyiv's Dynamo. In the first leg of the UEFA Europa League first qualifying round, Ihor Kostiuk's side hosted Romanian club Universitatea Cluj in Lublin.
The White-Blues made an active start to the match and took the initiative from the opening minutes, controlling possession and regularly threatening the opponent's goal. As early as the 7th minute Pikhalonok met Redushko's cross from the left with a header, but directed the ball straight at the goalkeeper. A minute later Pikhalonok had another attempt, this time from outside the penalty area, but the defenders turned the ball behind for a corner.
The nominal hosts continued to apply pressure, while the Romanian side created almost nothing in front of Dynamo's goal. The closest the Kyiv side came to opening the scoring in the first half was in the 19th minute. Redushko broke into the left side of the penalty area and found Shaparenko, who immediately flicked the ball with his heel into the path of Pikhalyonok, but his shot went just wide of the far post.
A little later, Brazhko sent a free-kick over the crossbar, while the visitors' defenders successfully blocked dangerous low crosses from Voloshyn and Redushko from opposite flanks. In the second half of the opening period, Dynamo did not ease the pressure. In the 36th minute, the visitors created their most dangerous chance before the break: Makalu delivered a low cross from the right, Mendy shot from the center of the box, but Neshcheret confidently won the duel.
The Kyiv side quickly shifted play back toward the opponent's goal. First, Ponomarenko fired from the left side of the penalty area, but his effort was blocked by defenders. Shortly afterward, Shaparenko, after waiting for the rebound following Voloshyn's cross from the right, shot over the bar from the center of the box.
In first-half stoppage time, Dynamo had another chance to open the scoring. Pikhalonok's first-time pass sent Dubinchak into a shooting position on the left side of the penalty area, but after a deflection the ball went just wide of the near post.
After the break, Dynamo once again took control of the game. Brazhko struck dangerously from outside the penalty area, but goalkeeper Mihail made the save. Soon after, Ponomarenko failed to make proper contact with a corner delivery, and then Pikhalonok's dangerous cross from the right was intercepted by the defenders.
In the 55th minute, the visitors responded with a chance of their own. Kubiš burst into the penalty area from the left, but Mykhavko made a timely block, sending the ball behind for a corner. In response, Ponomarenko attempted an acrobatic diving finish from Voloshyn's cross from the right, but sent the ball wide.
Within two minutes, from the 67th to the 68th minute, Dynamo created two excellent opportunities to finally break the deadlock. First, after a pass from Mykhavko, Buyalskyi struck from outside the penalty area, but Mihail parried the ball away. Then, a minute later, Shaparenko picked out Ponomarenko with a delicate pass at the near corner of the six-yard box, but the forward was once again unable to beat the goalkeeper.
In the 79th minute, the crossbar came to the visitors' rescue when Dubinchak played the ball into the left side of the penalty area and Shaparenko's turn-and-shot struck the woodwork. A few minutes later, Dubinchak himself tried his luck from long range but sent the ball just wide of the left post.
In the 84th minute, the unexpected happened as the floodlights at the stadium went out. The enforced interruption lasted five minutes, and after play resumed, Redushko came closest to scoring with a shot from just outside the penalty area that flew over the crossbar.
As a result, the final whistle confirmed a goalless draw. Second leg will take place in a week's time, on July 16, in Cluj-Napoca.
UEFA Europa League, first qualifying round, first leg
Dynamo – Universitatea – 0:0
July 9, 2026. Lublin, Arena Lublin Stadium.
Dynamo: Neshcheret – Kędziora, Bilovar, Mykhavko, Dubinchak – Pikhalonok (Buialskii, 61), Brazhko, Shaparenko, Voloshyn (Ogundana, 90), Redushko – Ponomarenko.
Universitatea: Mihail – Stanoev, Cristea, Kubiš, Kipciu – Codrea, Drammeh (Pinho, 83), Ștefănescu, Bic, Mendy (Adams, 65) – Makalu (Aliiev, 73).
Booked: Drammeh (71).
