On Monday, August 31, the final match of the 4th round of the Ukrainian Premier League took place between Chernivtsi side Bukovyna and Dynamo Kyiv. As Bukovyna’s home stadium in Chernivtsi is currently being brought up to UPL regulatory requirements, the game was played in Kamianets-Podilskyi at the H. Tonkocheiev Stadium.
The teams approached the match with completely different records. Igor Kostiuk’s side had collected the maximum number of points in the opening rounds, while Bukovyna had not only failed to win a single game but had also failed to score a single goal in the league since the start of the season. Nevertheless, an easy outing for the White and Blues was not expected.
Dynamo, led forward from the opening minutes by their experienced leaders Vitalii Buyalskyi and Andriy Yarmolenko, immediately took control of possession but did not create any dangerous chances. The hosts made occasional forays forward, but in the 12th minute, a goal came out of nowhere. Taras Mykhavko, positioned on the left side of the penalty area, passed the ball back to Viacheslav Surkis, with Yevhen Kozhushko rushing towards him. As the young goalkeeper swung his leg to clear the ball, the forward threw himself into the challenge, and the ball deflected off his foot and into the net – 1:0.
Dynamo could have equalized in the 16th minute, when Matvii Ponomarenko followed up after Buyalskyi’s set-piece delivery, but his shot was blocked by a defender. Then, in the 21st minute, a second ball found its way into the Kyiv side’s net. Mykhailo Stasiuk picked out Kozhushko inside the penalty area, and after getting past his marker, he fired a shot under Surkis. However, at the start of the move, a Bukovyna player had fouled Vladyslav Kabaiiev in the centre of the pitch, so after a VAR review, the referee ruled out the goal and the score remained unchanged.
The episode prompted the visitors to step up their pressure, and they effectively pinned the hosts back in their own penalty area. In the 30th minute, Yarmolenko came close to equalizing after Oleksii Sych’s cross and Buyalskyi’s lay-off, but his shot from inside the penalty area hit the post. In the 40th minute, Ponomarenko attempted a curling effort from a promising position, but the goalkeeper saved it, while Bezuhlyi managed to get a touch to the ball just before Yarmolenko, who was ready to follow up. Just before half-time, the goalkeeper was called into action once again after Yarmolenko’s long-range effort, with Penkov making a reliable save.
During the break, the White and Blues’ coaching staff made several adjustments and substitutions, but they did not produce the desired result. Among the chances after the restart was Ponomarenko’s attempt at an overhead kick as he tried to meet Sych’s cross, but the ball slipped off Matvii’s foot. Bukovyna, however, made the most of their opportunity in the 53rd minute. Following a corner, Bezuhlyi won the aerial duel inside the penalty area, sending the ball high into the air above the six-yard box. Busko’s active challenge, including the use of his arms, prevented Surkis from securing the ball, and it slipped from the Dynamo goalkeeper’s hands and crossed the goal line – 2:0. The officials reviewed the incident for a possible foul on Viacheslav, but found no infringement in the Chernivtsi player’s actions.
The White and Blues now had nothing to lose and had to push forward. Chances to reduce the deficit arose – in particular, in the 58th minute, the goalkeeper dealt with Guerrero’s curling effort, while in the 72nd minute he reacted brilliantly to Ponomarenko’s powerful shot. The hosts also had opportunities to score another goal. For example, in the 76th minute, Zaderaka intercepted the ball in the opposition half, advanced towards goal and unleashed a powerful shot, but Illia Olkhovyi, who had replaced Surkis in goal during the second half, produced an impressive diving save in the corner.
However, Olkhovyi also conceded in his debut match for Dynamo’s first team. In the 83rd minute, Zaderaka made his way down the left flank and delivered a cross from the byline, with Illin heading the ball into the net from inside the six-yard box – 3:0.
Unfortunately, Dynamo were unable to score even a consolation goal in the remaining minutes before the final whistle. The only notable chances were a blocked effort from Mungenge and an inaccurate long-range shot by Pikhaliyonok. As a result, the White and Blues suffered their first defeat on the domestic stage this season. Dynamo will play their next match next Sunday, September 6, when they host Cherkasy side LNZ.
Ukrainian Premier League, 4th round
Bukovyna – Dynamo – 3:0 (1:0)
31.08.2026. Kamianets-Podilskyi, H. Tonkocheiev's stadium.
Bukovyna: Penkov – Busko, Karas, Bezuhlyi, Stasiuk – Hrusha (Pidlepенets, 88), Vitenchuk, Tankovskyi (Zaderaka, 60), Odinaka (Illin, 46), Dakhnovskyi (Mor, 60) – Kozhushko (Voitikhovskyi, 67).
Dynamo: Surkis (Olkhovyi, 60) – Sych, Kędziora, Mykhavko, Dubinchak – Lonwijk (Mounguengue, 80), Rubchynskyi, Yarmolenko (Guerrero, 46), Buialskii (Pikhalоnok, 60), Kabaiev (Voloshyn, 46) – Ponomarenko.
Goals: Kozhushko (12), Surkis (53, own goal), Illin (83).
Booked: Voloshyn (56).
