In the 29th round of the VBET Ukrainian Premier League Dynamo Kyiv faced FC Poltava. Although Dynamo were officially the away side match was played at the Valeriy Lobanovskyi Dynamo stadium in Kyiv.
With the Ukrainian Cup final approaching Dynamo’s coaching staff heavily rotated the squad, giving opportunities to players who had received limited playing time during the season. In particular striker Vitalii Lobko made his debut for the first team while Viacheslav Surkis started in goal after previously playing only nine minutes in the Round 18 home match against Epitsentr Kamianets-Podilskyi.
From the opening minutes Dynamo pushed forward aggressively and quickly took the lead. After a pass from Ogundana from the left flank Lobko was brought down by a defender and the goalkeeper inside the box, and referee awarded a penalty. Andriy Yarmolenko confidently converted from the spot to make it 1:0 in the 3rd minute.
“White-Blues” had no intention of stopping there. Oleksandr Pikhalonok fired from the edge of the penalty area but goalkeeper reacted well. Volodymyr Brazhko met a cross at the far post though the Poltava keeper again made an impressive save. Later Ogundana struck from the edge of the box but Minchev covered the corner and prevented another goal.
Nominal hosts relied mostly on long balls toward their physical striker and set pieces. Following a corner kick Misiura headed wide while another free-kick delivery was comfortably collected by Surkis.
Dynamo continued creating more dangerous chances. Yarmolenko burst into the penalty area from the right flank, attracted several defenders and laid the ball off to Pikhalonok whose close-range effort was saved. Soon after Ogundana cut inside from the left at speed and struck toward goal but the ball clipped the post and went wide.
In the latter stages of the first half Dynamo slowed the tempo somewhat, allowing Poltava more possession and attacking opportunities. However hosts managed only one attempt on target when Kobzar shot from outside the box but missed the post.
Before halftime Ogundana had another chance to extend the lead but after getting into position inside the box he fired wide of the far post.
At the break Dynamo refreshed holding midfield area, though it did little to change the overall flow of the game. Notable moments after halftime included an inaccurate strike from Vladyslav Dubinchak and a weak effort from Nazar Voloshyn after a run down the right flank.
A controversial moment occurred in the 75th minute. After Voloshyn’s low cross from the byline Vitalii Buialskii failed to get a clean shot away under pressure and the ball bounced back to Voloshyn who scored with a first-time finish. However, after a lengthy VAR review, the goal was disallowed for offside.
Nevertheless Voloshyn still managed to register an assist. Deep into stoppage time he drove into the box from the right flank and delivered a low pass across goal where Eduardo Guerrero tapped the ball into the empty net to seal a 2:0 victory.
Added minutes saw both teams suddenly become more active. First Surkis reacted brilliantly to a close-range shot from Kobzar, saving with his foot. Moments later Guerrero could have completed a brace when Buialskii chipped the ball toward him near the six-yard box but the Panamian forward volleyed over the crossbar.
As a result Dynamo Kyiv secured a comfortable victory and now turn their attention to the Ukrainian Cup final which will take place on Wednesday, May 20, in Lviv at Arena Lviv.
VBET Ukrainian Premier League, Round 29
16 May 2026. Kyiv, Valeriy Lobanovskyi Dynamo Stadium.
FC Poltava – Dynamo – 0:2 (0:1)
Poltava: 1. Minchev – 12. Savenkov, 20. Misiura, 5. Pidlepych, 95. Kotsiiumaka (44. Plakhtyr, 84) – 21. Doroshenko (19. Buzhyn, 84), 15. Danylenko (c) (14. Marusych, 84), 10. Sad (11. Piatov, 70), 8. Odariuk, 7. Halenkov – 38. Sukhoruchko (93. Kobzar, 26).
Dynamo: 71. Surkis – 13. Korobov, 40. Bilovar, 66. Thiare, 44. Dubinchak – 6. Brazhko (91. Mykhailenko, 46), 10. Shaparenko (5. Yatsyk, 46), 8. Pikhalonok (29. Buialskii, 60), 7. Yarmolenko (c) (9. Voloshyn, 60), 16. Ogundana – 19. Lobko (39. Guerrero, 80).
Goals: Yarmolenko (3, penalty), Guerrero (90+1).
Booked: Misiura (23), Danylenko (66) – Thiare (15).
