On Thursday, February 5, Dynamo Kyiv played another friendly match in Turkey. Ihor Kostiuk’s side faced fellow Ukrainian Premier League club Veres Rivne.
Teams had already met twice this season in official matches so there was little point in hiding anything from each other. This head-to-head friendly on Turkish soil proved useful for both sides as part of their preparations for the resumption of the season.
As in the previous friendly against Kauno Žalgiris the match was played over four halves, though this time each half lasted 30 minutes.
The first dangerous moment belonged to Veres. In the 3rd minute Hodia tried to finish a dangerous cross from the right flank but missed the target from close range. Dynamo responded almost immediately: Vivcharenko drove forward, entered the penalty area but his shot was saved by the goalkeeper. Shortly after Mykhavko headed a corner kick into his own teammate, preventing the ball from reaching the goal.
Both teams set a high tempo from the opening minutes, largely bypassing midfield play. In the 9th minute Dynamo took three shots in one attack from inside the penalty area but each effort was blocked by defenders. Finally, in the 22nd minute, Dynamo opened the scoring. Pikhalonok delivered a brilliant long pass into the box to Vivcharenko who laid it off first time for Shaparenko, and he tapped the ball in from point-blank range – 1:0.
At the start of the second half Ogundana had a great chance to double the lead. After a cross from Korobov Shola finished first time from inside the box but sent the ball over the bar. Veres soon responded, nearly capitalizing on a careless pass in Dynamo’s half, though Hodia failed to beat Mykhavko one-on-one.
In the 38th minute Dynamo scored again. Mykhavko joined the attack, received the ball in the penalty area and played a low cross across goal. Voloshyn managed to get a touch and set up Shaparenko who calmly finished from just a few centimeters out – 2:0.
Veres did not give up and won a penalty a minute later. Vivcharenko fouled Sharai in the box and Kharatin confidently converted the spot kick, sending the ball and goalkeeper Ihnatenko in opposite directions – 2:1. Then, in the 46th minute, Veres equalized. Sharai intercepted a pass near Dynamo’s penalty area and curled a precise shot into the corner – 2:2.
Dynamo created danger mainly from corner kicks. Bilovar headed over the bar in one episode while Korobov fired narrowly wide from close range in another. Teams went into the long break with the score level.
After the break Dynamo’s coaching staff replaced all outfield players leaving only goalkeeper Ihnatenko on the pitch. In the 66th minute Dynamo regained the lead. Buialskii quickly took a free kick from the left flank, passed to Brazhko and Volodymyr unleashed a powerful shot from about 30 meters that flew under the crossbar – 3:2.
The tempo of the game then noticeably dropped. Dynamo controlled possession while Veres tried to apply pressure including in Dynamo’s half. Clear chances were rare with most attacks ending in crosses that defenders handled comfortably.
The final half was also low on chances but featured more physical play with the referee frequently showing yellow cards. Despite trailing Dynamo remained more active and dominated possession. Veres’ best opportunity came in the 105th minute when Pushkutsa broke through on the left side but missed the far corner.
The final whistle confirmed a 3:2 victory for Dynamo. Preparations for the restart of the season continue. Dynamo’s next friendly is scheduled for February 9 against Georgian side Iberia 1999.
Winter Training Camp 2026. Friendly Match
Dynamo – Veres – 3:2
Dynamo (1st & 2nd halves): Ihnatenko – Korobov, Bilovar, Mykhavko, Vivcharenko – Mykhailenko, Pikhalonok (c), Voloshyn, Ogundana, Shaparenko – Ponomarenko
Dynamo (3rd & 4th halves): Ihnatenko – Karavaiev, Popov, Thiare, Dubinchak – Brazhko, Yatsyk, Herych, Diallo, Buialskii (c) – Guerrero (Blănuță, 109’)
Goals: Shaparenko (22, 38), Brazhko (67) – Kharatin (40, pen.), Sharai (46)
Yellow cards: Herych (99), Guerrero (105), Yatsyk (107) – Hodia (27), Checher (113)
