On Thursday, August 28, at the Arena Lublin stadium in Lublin, Poland, the second leg of the UEFA Europa League play-off round took place between Dynamo Kyiv and Maccabi Tel Aviv. To remind you, the first match, played a week ago in Bačka Topola, Serbia, ended in a 3:1 victory for the Israeli side.
Compared to the first match, Dynamo's coaching staff made three changes to the starting lineup. With Vivcharenko's suspension, Dubinchak took his place on the left flank of the defense, Buialskii replaced Shaparenko in midfield, and Guerrero started in place of Vanat, who did not even make the matchday squad.
With a two-goal deficit, Dynamo took control of the ball from the start and just 5 minutes into the game took the lead. After a corner kick on the right, Pikhalionok delivered a perfect cross to the penalty spot where Guerrero was left unmarked, and Eduardo headed the ball into the net – 1:0.
In the 10th minute the Panamanian forward had another great chance to score. Karavaiev launched the ball down the right wing to Guerrero, who advanced into the penalty box, but with a defender closing in, he missed the far corner, and Voloshyn couldn't get to the far post in time. Even the defenders joined the attack, and after a cross from Dubinchak on the left, Mykhavko had a header from the edge of the penalty area, but the ball went just wide of the post.
Overall the first half was full of fouls with players committing both tactical and reckless fouls. In terms of chances, Maccabi created their first real threat in the 36th minute when Peretz shot from outside the penalty area but Neshcheret was in the right position to save. Shortly before the break Dynamo played a great combination, and Karavaiev was played through into the box, but his shot at the far corner lacked accuracy.
