On Matchday 5 of the Conference league main stage Dynamo Kyiv travelled to Florence, Italy, where they faced Fiorentina.
The day before acting Dynamo head coach Ihor Kostyuk promised at the press conference that fans would definitely not see indifference from his players. Confirming their coach’s words visitors began the match bravely, immediately pushing forward and hoping to find an early chance.
And while Pikhalonok’s shot from outside the penalty area was blocked in the 4th minute, a few minutes later Džeko at the opposite end came very close to heading Dodo’s cross into the net. Dynamo continued searching for a quick goal but Voloshyn’s cross from the right was inaccurate and Thiare’s shot from the corner of the penalty area was blocked for a corner.
Hosts pushed the play away from their goal and quickly took the lead. Initially Fiorentina forward duo were unlucky: after a corner delivery Džeko’s shot struck Kean and Neshcheret reacted to Kean’s follow-up effort. However almost immediately afterward the ball ended up in Dynamo’s net. The goal came from a simple combination: Dodo delivered a cross from the right flank straight onto Kean’s head and in mid-air he redirected the ball into the far corner past Neshcheret – 1:0.
Inspired Fiorentina – who have recently been struggling with results – continued attacking. In the 26th minute Kean was sent through on goal and Neshcheret, coming out in time, stopped the danger at the cost of injuring his nose. Dynamo tried to control the ball but created little. Meanwhile things remained tense near their own penalty area – active Kean cut inside from the left and shot toward the near post but Neshcheret saved, and Richardson’s long-range effort after cutting inside from the right flew over the bar. Teams went into halftime with Fiorentina holding a minimal advantage.
After the break, understanding they had no room to retreat, Dynamo came out with renewed energy. Kabaiev’s attempt from the left corner of the box was blocked while Voloshyn’s shot from the opposite side was handled by the goalkeeper. But in the 55th minute even the experience of De Gea couldn’t save hosts: Pikhalonok laid the ball off perfectly for Mykhailenko and Mykola’s powerful strike from around 25 meters found the top corner – 1:1.
Such a turn of events was far from what hosts had planned as they hoped to win “with little effort.” Soon chances began appearing near Dynamo’s goal again – after a lofted pass into the box Thiare almost accidentally redirected the ball into the corner of his own net but Neshcheret reacted and pushed it out for a corner from which Džeko flicked the ball to the far post for Kean who failed to hit the target.
Fiorentina’s coaching staff made several substitutions including the introduction of fresh striker Gudmundsson who within minutes had a chance: carrying the ball to the edge of the penalty area the Icelander hit it with a deflection off a Dynamo defender, sending it just wide. In the next attack Ndour headed straight at Neshcheret after a cross from the right. Ultimately hosts’ pressure paid off in the 74th minute. After a cross from the left Kean fired at Neshcheret from point-blank range, the keeper saved with his legs but Gudmundsson was first to the rebound and sent the ball into the empty net – 2:1.
Final minutes saw Dynamo mostly on the hosts’ half but it was Fiorentina who came closer to scoring: in the 88th minute Kean was played through and struck powerfully from inside the area but Neshcheret held the shot securely. In added time after a throw-in Yarmolenko managed to reach the ball with his head inside the goal area but could not direct it on target.
The final whistle confirmed a narrow victory for Fiorentina. Dynamo showed fighting spirit and great desire but unfortunately this did not add any points to the standings. The team’s final chance to earn a win will come in a week when they face Armenian side Noah in Lublin.
Conference league, main stage, Matchday 5
Fiorentina – Dynamo – 2:1 (1:0)
11 December 2025, Florence, Artemio Franchi Stadium
Fiorentina: 43. De Gea – 5. Pongračić, 15. Comuzzo, 26. Viti (65. Parisi, 67) – 24. Richardson, 27. Ndour (8. Mandragora, 80), 14. Nicolussi (99. Kouamé, 66), 2. Dodo (60. Kouadio, 86), 29. Fortini – 9. Džeko (10. Gudmundsson, 67), 20. Kean.
Dynamo: 35. Neshcheret – 18. Tymchyk, 34. Zakharchenko, 66. Thiare, 44. Dubinchak (2. Vivcharenko, 71) – 91. Mykhailenko, 10. Shaparenko, 8. Pikhalonok (5. Yatsyk, 77), 9. Voloshyn, 22. Kabaiev (16. Ogundana, 77) – 39. Guerrero (7. Yarmolenko, 71).
Goals: Kean (18), Gudmundsson (74) – Mykhailenko (55).
Booked: Ndour (43), Gudmundsson (83), Kouadio (90+3) – Dubinchak (52), Tiareh (85), Vivcharenko (90).
