In the 28th round of the Ukrainian Premier League Dynamo Kyiv hosted Kolos Kovalivka at the club stadium in Kyiv.
The match coincided with two significant dates for “White-Blues”: exactly 99 years ago the Kyiv Proletarian Sports Society “Dynamo” was founded and 24 years ago legendary player and coach Valeriy Lobanovskyi passed away. So, besides the tournament motivation, Dynamo’s players had extra inspiration for this game.
Opening minutes were tense and physical but hosts nearly scored with their very first chance. In the 8th minute Buialskii delivered a corner from the right flank and Mykhavko rose highest to head the ball goalward. The goalkeeper failed to hold onto it and the ball crossed the line – 1:0.
Few minutes later Dynamo doubled their advantage, again with captain Buialskii heavily involved. A brilliant pass sent him through on the right side of the penalty area, and Burda, attempting to clear the ball, clipped Buialskii’s leg instead. After a VAR review the referee awarded a penalty. Yarmolenko confidently converted with a strike into the top corner – 2:0. It was the 122nd goal for the legendary Dynamo forward, bringing him even closer to the UPL’s all-time scoring record.
With a comfortable lead secured Dynamo slowed the tempo while keeping Kolos away from dangerous areas. The visitors’ first shot came in the 23rd minute when Salabay fired over the bar from the edge of the area. Shortly afterward Poniedielnik also missed from distance. Kolos had few opportunities from set pieces but Dynamo’s defense remained composed, giving goalkeeper Neshcheret little real work to do.
At the other end hosts still looked dangerous on the counterattack. During one attack Yarmolenko laid the ball off for Mykhailenko whose long-range effort went just wide of the post. Near the end of the first half both teams had excellent chances. First Guerrero struck from around 10 meters after a rebound but the ball rolled narrowly wide. Then Kolos nearly pulled one back when Tsurikov met a lofted cross from the right with a first-time volley near the penalty spot, only for Neshcheret to produce a superb save.
Dynamo began the second half too calmly while visitors gradually increased the pressure. In one episode Neshcheret again showed his quality by parrying a dangerous effort from Demchenko inside the box. In the 58th minute Kolos finally scored after a well-worked move: Demchenko delivered a low cross from the right flank and unmarked Salabay finished precisely into the corner – 2:1.
Just three minutes later visitors almost equalized. Gagnidze escaped his marker in the middle of the area and found himself nearly one-on-one with Neshcheret but Dynamo's goalkeeper reacted brilliantly, narrowing the angle and saving from close range.
Kolos kept pushing in search of an equalizer. In the 68th minute Poniedielnik struck dangerously from the right edge of the area and after deflection the ball was heading toward the far corner but Neshcheret produced another excellent save to tip it behind for a corner. Few minutes later Demchenko headed a cross from the right, though the ball landed on top of the net.
Despite sustained pressure from visitors their late attempts failed to create truly clear-cut opportunities. Dynamo also had a chance of their own when Shaparenko shot from inside the penalty area but goalkeeper gathered comfortably.
The final whistle confirmed a 2:1 victory for Dynamo Kyiv. “White-Blues” will play their next match on Saturday, May 16, against SC Poltava.
Ukrainian Premier league, Round 28
Dynamo – Kolos – 2:1 (2:0)
13 May 2026. Kyiv, Valeriy Lobanovskyi Dynamo stadium
Dynamo: 35. Neshcheret – 20. Karavaiev, 34. Zakharchenko, 32. Mykhavko, 2. Vivcharenko (44. Dubinchak, 77) – 91. Mykhailenko, 5. Yatsyk (6. Brazhko, 62), 9. Voloshyn, 29. Buialskii (c) (8. Pikhalonok, 64), 7. Yarmolenko (16. Ogundana, 64) – 39. Guerrero (10. Shaparenko, 77).
Kolos: 31. Pakholiuk – 9. Tsyurikov (c), 6. Burda, 3. Kozik, 77. Poniedielnik – 55. Telles, 7. Demchenko (99. Rrapaj, 79), 20. Gagnidze, 17. Salabay, 14. Kane (15. Husol, 46) – 11. Tahiri.
Goals: Mykhavko (8), Yarmolenko (13, pen.) – Salabay (58).
Booked: Buialskii (45+1), Zakharchenko (54) – Burda (13), Demchenko (79).
