On Wednesday, October 29, Dynamo Kyiv hosted their archrivals Shakhtar Donetsk in the Round of 16 of the 2025/26 Ukrainian Cup.
The teams started the match cautiously. In the opening minutes Shakhtar controlled possession more and created the first dangerous moment. In the 10th minute Neverton made a run down the right wing and crossed into the box where Marlon Gomes met the ball with a close-range header – but Neshcheret reacted brilliantly, parrying the attempt and collecting the rebound.
A few minutes later, after another defensive lapse on Dynamo’s left flank, Konoplia burst into the penalty area and shot toward the near post – again Neshcheret saved and, though Gomes was first to the rebound, his follow-up went over the bar.
It was evident that Dynamo’s players were nervous – almost leading to serious trouble when Popov challenged Eguinaldo with a raised foot but, fortunately for the hosts, the referee limited himself to showing a yellow card.
Chances near Shovkovskyi’s side of the field kept appearing. Eguinaldo cut inside from the left and tried a long-range effort which Neshcheret parried; soon after Meirelles got on the end of a cross from the right but once again the Kyiv goalkeeper came to the rescue.
Neshcheret had to intervene yet again after a shot from Neverton from the left edge of the box. As for Dynamo’s attack the only moment worth mentioning in the first half was a long-range effort from Kabaiev which flew over the crossbar.
