On Friday, February 20, FC Dynamo Kyiv played their Matchday 17 fixture of the Ukrainian championship. The White-Blues hosted FC Rukh Lviv. It was Dynamo’s first official match of the second half of the season following the winter break.
Before the game Dynamo were in fourth place in the standings with 26 points from 16 matches. Their opponents sat 10th with 19 points also after 16 games.
The opening minutes were fairly quiet with few dangerous moments near either goal. The ball stayed mostly in midfield and Dynamo struggled to seize clear control of the match.
The first real threat came after a corner kick but Rukh managed to clear both the initial delivery and the follow-up cross. Ponomarenko tried to shoot after a rebound but failed to connect properly. Shortly afterward Vivcharenko and Brazhko attempted efforts from distance – the former’s shot was blocked while the latter’s went wide.
Midway through the half debutant Korobov found himself in a promising position inside the penalty area without tight marking but his shot struck the post. Brazhko’s follow-up attempt from the edge of the box flew well over the crossbar. Korobov was active throughout including a dangerous low cross from the right flank.
Redushko also registered a decent attempt but missed the target. Brazhko delivered a powerful free-kick on target but Hereta made the save. Teams went into halftime with the score still 0:0.
The second half began with a quick Dynamo attack and a long-range strike from Brazhko from about 26 meters. Hereta with some difficulty tipped the ball out of the top corner. Dynamo were more aggressive after the break, pinning the visitors back and frequently delivering balls into the penalty area though without immediate success.
Brazhko continued to send dangerous crosses into the box and Kyiv earned several promising set pieces. However Rukh’s defense repeatedly blocked attempts, winning aerial duels and slowing the tempo whenever Dynamo tried to increase the pace.
Eventually hosts were rewarded for their persistence. The breakthrough came from a corner kick. Korobov battled for the ball at the near post and after a ricochet off a Rukh defender it fell to Ponomarenko who fired home from about 10 meters to give Dynamo a 1:0 lead.
Soon after Buialskii had a chance to double the advantage but his shot lacked power and was comfortably collected by the Rukh goalkeeper.
In the end Dynamo secured a narrow 1:0 victory.
Dynamo’s next match will take place in a week, on Friday, February 27, when they host Premier League newcomers Epitsentr (Kamianets-Podilskyi) in Matchday 18.
VBET League. Matchday 17
Dynamo – Rukh – 1:0 (0:0)
February 20, 2026. Kyiv, Dynamo Stadium named after Valeriy Lobanovskyi
Dynamo: Neshcheret, Korobov (Tymchyk, 80), Bilovar, Mykhavko, Vivcharenko, Brazhko, Pikhalonok (Mykhailenko, 80), Shaparenko (Buialskii, 68), Voloshyn, Redushko (Ogundana, 88), Ponomarenko (Guerrero, 88).
Rukh: Hereta, Kitela, Slyusar, Tovarnytskyi, Roman, Pidhurskyi (Levytskyi, 87), Prytula, Boyko, Talles (K. Denysov, 90+3), Yasinskyi (Tutti, 56; I. Denysov, 87), Neves (Sebro, 88).
Goal: Ponomarenko (75)
Bookings: Vivcharenko (43), Pikhalonok (66) – Boyko (9), Kitela (40), Roman (43), Neves (63), Talles (90+2).
