In Matchday 25 of the Ukrainian Premier League Dynamo Kyiv traveled to Kryvyi Rih to face Kryvbas.
The start of the match was delayed by 45 minutes due to an air raid alert in the city. Dynamo’s problems didn’t end there – Brazhko picked up an injury during the warm-up so he was replaced in the starting lineup by Yatsyk.
Dynamo began at a very high tempo. As early as the 15th second Shaparenko was played through inside the box but the goalkeeper made a save, and Pikhalonok missed the rebound.
Visitors, playing with the wind in the first half, kept pushing. Pikhalonok nearly scored from a free kick and later Ponomarenko hit the post after a corner. But soon the old saying came true: if you don’t score, you concede. Mendoza broke down the left flank, cut inside and fired a powerful shot from about 30 meters past Neshcheret – 1:0.
Kryvbas’ lead didn’t last long. Their goalkeeper made a mistake, passing straight to Shaparenko, who quickly set up Ponomarenko to equalize – 1:1.
However Mendoza took over the game. He restored the lead with another powerful strike from distance (2:1), then completed his hat-trick after winning a duel and finishing one-on-one (3:1). Before halftime he scored again in similar fashion, making it 4:1 and leaving Dynamo stunned.
After the break Dynamo came out determined. In the 47th minute Pikhalonok delivered a cross and Mykhavko scored from close range – 4:2.
Despite heavy rain and strong wind Dynamo kept attacking. In the 64th minute Voloshyn finished from close range after a cross from Buialskii – 4:3. Just five minutes later Buialskii himself equalized with a well-worked combination – 4:4.
Kryvbas responded in the 73rd minute as Zaderaka scored to make it 5:4. But Dynamo immediately hit back. Buialskii assisted Yarmolenko who made it 5:5 – one goal and two assists from the captain after coming on as a substitute.
The decisive moment came in the 87th minute. After a scramble in the box Shaparenko found Yarmolenko who cleverly flicked the ball into the net with his heel – 5:6. It was Yarmolenko’s 121st goal in the Ukrainian championship. After a lengthy VAR check the goal was confirmed.
The score remained unchanged until the final whistle. Dynamo completed an incredible comeback in what became the highest-scoring match in the history of the Ukrainian championship, securing a dramatic 6:5 victory in Kryvyi Rih.
Ukrainian Premier League, Matchday 25
Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih – Dynamo Kyiv – 5:6 (4:1)
April 26, 2026. Kryvyi Rih, Hirnyk Stadium
Kryvbas: 12. Kemkin – 2. Jurčec, 4. Vilivald, 15. Jones, 5. Bekavac (55. Dibango, 71) – 6. Araujo, 94. Zaderaka, 8. Shevchenko, 18. Bar Lin (10. Giovani, 71), 7. Mendoza – 24. Mulyk (9. Paraco, 60).
Dynamo: 35. Neshcheret – 13. Korobov (20. Karavaiev, 46), 34. Zakharchenko, 32. Mykhavko, 44. Dubinchak (2. Vivcharenko, 46) – 5. Yatsyk (29. Buialskii, 61), 10. Shaparenko, 8. Pikhalonok (40. Bilovar, 90+1), 9. Voloshyn (7. Yarmolenko, 73), 70. Redushko – 11. Ponomarenko.
Goals: Mendoza (13, 29, 34, 45+2), Zaderaka (73) – Ponomarenko (15), Mykhavko (48), Voloshyn (64), Buialskii (69), Yarmolenko (76, 87).
Bookings: Araujo (54) – Zakharchenko (25), Voloshyn (58).
