As part of the 10th round of the Ukrainian VBET Premier League Dynamo Kyiv hosted Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih at home.
Statistically, since Kryvbas returned to the top division, the White-Blues have won all head-to-head matches against them. However this time visitors arrived in Kyiv as the current league leaders so an easy match was not expected for Oleksandr Shovkovskyi’s team.
The opening minutes were rather uneventful. Dynamo tried to take control of the ball and patiently looked for ways to break through the visitors’ defense. Their persistence paid off in the 15th minute – after a well-executed corner by Buyalskyi Popov rose above everyone in the box and headed the ball precisely into the corner – 1:0.
The conceded goal spurred the visitors to attack more actively down the wings but Dynamo, remembering their mistakes from previous games, quickly neutralized Kryvbas’s momentum. On the 25th minute they doubled their lead. Pikhalonok sent in a dangerous free-kick from the left flank, the defenders failed to clear the ball and it rebounded into the six-yard box where Karavaiev blasted it into the net – 2:0.
By the 32nd minute Dynamo made it 3:0. Kabaiev played a perfect one-two with Yarmolenko, reached the byline and cut the ball back for the vice-captain who easily tapped it into the empty net from close range – 3:0. That was Yarmolenko’s 115th goal for Dynamo in UPL!
The third goal calmed the tempo a bit. The only notable chance before halftime came from Brazhko whose shot after a cross from the left was saved by Kemkin. The teams went into the break with Dynamo enjoying a comfortable lead.
The second half started with a dangerous long-range effort from Lin which Neshcheret could only parry in front of him but luckily no Kryvbas players were there to capitalize. Dynamo continued to dominate possession. Kabaiev shot over the bar from distance, Karavaiev hit the post after a pass from Buialskyi and Dynamo's captain missed narrowly after a stylish backheel attempt.
In the final 20 minutes Kryvbas tried to take more initiative, pressing higher up the pitch, but Shovkovskyi’s side skillfully slowed down the tempo. Substitute Guerrero brought fresh energy and created several good moments – in one episode he won the ball physically but shot straight at the goalkeeper and later his low cross was blocked by a defender.
Pikhalonok had two chances to add a fourth: first his close-range shot was blocked by Dibango and later, in stoppage time, Kryvbas keeper denied him again from around the penalty spot. But the final word belonged to Guerrero – in the first added minute the Panamanian played a quick one-two with Pikhalyonok, broke into the box from the right flank and coolly finished into the far corner – 4:0.
So Dynamo ends their streak of five consecutive league draws and extends their unbeaten run in the Ukrainian Premier League to 42 matches.
VBET League, 10th round
Dynamo – Kryvbas – 4:0
26.10.2025. Kyiv, Dynamo stadium named after V. Lobanovskyi
Dynamo: 35. Nescheret – 20. Karavaiev (18. Tymchyk, 79), 4. Popov, 66. Thiare, 2. Vivcharenko (32. Mykhavko, 79) – 6. Brazhko (91. Mykhailenko, 86), 8. Pikhalonok, 29. Buialskii (c, 15. Rubchynskyi, 77), 22. Kabaiev, 16. Ogundana – 7. Yarmolenko (39. Guerrero, 77).
Kryvbas: 12. Kemkin – 2. Jurčec, 6. Konate, 4. Vilivald, 55. Dibango (5. Bekavac, 90) – 27. Araujo (8. Shevchenko, 64), 94. Zaderaka (c), 11. Tverdokhlib (24. Mulyk, 90), 18. Lin (21. Kamenskyi, 64), 7. Mendoza – 9. Paraco (28. Maya, 77).
Goals: Popov (15), Karavaiev (25), Yarmolenko (32), Guerrero (90+1).
Booked: Kabaiev (40), Yarmolenko (48) – Araujo (57), Vilivald (72).
