In the framework of the 3rd round of the Ukrainian Premier League, Dynamo Kyiv hosted Kolos from Kovalevka.
The Kyiv side entered the game after a difficult match in Baku against Qarabag in the Champions League qualification, while the Kovalevka side had two full weeks to prepare for the clash with the White and Blues – their previous-round match against Chornomorets was postponed due to shelling and damage to the stadium in Odesa.
However, Igor Kostiuk's team started the match from a position of strength. In the 6th minute, after Brazhko's long-range shot, the ball flew wide, and a few minutes later, following a corner and Mykhavko's knockdown, Shaparenko shot from inside the penalty area: the ball flew just past the post.
In the 19th minute, the White and Blues opened the scoring. Dubinchak ran down the left flank with the ball to the byline and delivered a cross, where Ponomarenko headed the ball past the goalkeeper from virtually the goal-line – 1:0.
However, Dynamo did not lead for long. Almost immediately in the next attack, Kolos launched an attack, switched the ball to the right flank, from where Demchenko shot into the near corner, and the ball went into the net off Surkis' hands – 1:1.
The White and Blues had to start all over again, taking control of the ball once more. However, chances were hard to come by. To make matters worse, in the 33rd minute the Kyiv side lost Tymchyk, who was forced to be replaced by Sych. At the same time, Dynamo could have scored before the break when, in the 45th minute, Ponomarenko was played through one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Matvii, attempting to chip the ball over Pakholyuk, was unable to beat his opponent in the close-range duel. Thus, the teams went into the break level.
The second half began with Kolos attacks – first Kane lacked accuracy, and soon Demchenko shot from a position in front of the penalty area, but Surkis parried the effort. A little later, the active Demchenko delivered a cross from the byline on the right flank, and Bilovar, attempting to block the ball, almost turned it into his own net.
For Dynamo, Mykhavko's involvement in a counterattack down the left flank and a dangerous cross towards Ponomarenko can be mentioned, after which Matvii shot over the bar. The White and Blues then launched a real onslaught on the Kolos goal after team leaders Yarmolenko and Buialskii came on from the bench. And in the 73rd minute, the White and Blues finally got their reward. Yarmolenko held onto the ball on the right flank before sending Sych into the break. The full-back crossed into the six-yard box, where Ponomarenko was unable to get a shot away. However, while lying on the pitch, Matvii managed to pass the ball to Buialskii, the captain laid it back to the edge of the penalty area, and Brazhko found the corner with a precise shot – 2:1.
The final minutes were tense. The teams committed a lot of fouls, and one of Brazhko's fouls resulted in a second yellow card for the Dynamo midfielder. As for the chances, Demchenko and Husol tried their luck from distance, but in the first instance the ball flew wide of the post, while in the second Mykhavko blocked the shot. At the other end, Ponomarenko broke dangerously forward on a counterattack, entered the penalty area from the left flank, but a defender blocked his path at the last moment.
In the end, the final whistle confirmed a hard-fought Dynamo victory. The White and Blues will play their next match on the last day of August, the 31st, when they travel to face Chernivtsi side Bukovyna.
Ukrainian Premier League, 3rd round
Dynamo – Kolos – 2:1 (1:1)
16.08.2026. Kyiv, Valeriy Lobanovskyi Dynamo stadium.
Dynamo: 71. Surkis – 18. Tymchyk (5. Sych, 33), 40. Bilovar, 32. Mykhavko, 44. Dubinchak (21. Lonwijk, 80) – 6. Brazhko, 15. Rubchynskyi (23. Malysh, 80), 10. Shaparenko (c, 29. Buialskii, 67), 39. Guerrero, 22. Kabaiev (7. Yarmolenko, 67) – 11. Ponomarenko.
Kolos: 31. Pakholyuk – 77. Poniedielnik, 45. Khrypchuk, 33. Honcharenko, 9. Tsurikov (c) – 55. Telles (47. Denysenko, 80), 7. Demchenko, 99. Rrapaj (30. Ndukwe, 64), 14. Kane (15. Husol, 77), 17. Salabai (90. Kasalla, 77) – 70. Klymchuk (11. Tahiri, 64).
Goals: Ponomarenko (19), Brazhko (73) – Demchenko (21).
Booked: Dubinchak (45+1), Brazhko (56), Yarmolenko (88) – Telles (25), Salabai (63), Honcharenko (84).
Sent off: Brazhko (85, second yellow card).
