In a Kharkiv thriller, Dynamo succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to Shakhtar, failing to retain the Cup title.
The White-Blues’ first-half offensive efforts looked bleak. With opponents dominating possession and controlling midfield, Dynamo went no further as producing three semi-chances. Bangoura first failed to apply finish to Kravets’ neat skills down the right flank. Then Kravets himself missed a chance after Ghioane’s cross found him in the corner of the goalmouth, whilst Aliyev sent wide a free-kick from a favorable position.
Donetsk kept pouring ahead. Several long-range shots, three dangerous volleys into the goalmouth all came before Shakhtar finally snapped a 44th minute lead. Ilsinho got round three defenders, sent a cross onto the unmarked Hladkyy. The striker only had to volley home into the left corner from eight meters.
As the game resumed, Dynamo wrested initiative and yielded more scoring opportunities. In the 56th minute, Corrêa arranged the ball for Bangoura, but the Guinean was too late to send a strike from fourteen meters. Dynamo seemed to enhance their advantage even more after Brandão was sent off for kicking Corrêa.
Yet it was Shakhtar who scored the game’s second and last goal. Ilsinho set up a tap-in for Hay, whose powerful drive found the net after a slight rebound from the post. The final minutes of the clash saw some fighting, five red cards and Dynamo’s ongoing, although fruitless, attacking foray.
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