On Thursday, November 27, Dynamo Kyiv played their Matchday 4 fixture of the Conference League main stage facing Cypriot side Omonia away.
Both teams have recently been facing a wave of criticism due to poor results so it’s no surprise that from the opening minutes spectators witnessed an open game with practically no midfield play. Players actively used flanks but numerous crosses and cutbacks did not lead to real danger.
Visitors created the first genuine chance to open the scoring. In the 7th minute Kabaiev beat his opponent on the right corner of the penalty area and aimed for the far post with his left foot but the goalkeeper was in position and caught the ball. Voloshyn, who in this match played as the central forward for the “white-blues,” was also actively searching for chances but it was clear that Nazar did not feel fully comfortable in that role.
Hosts responded to Dynamo’s activity with their own moment in the 18th minute. Left-back Kitsos joined the attack, used a feint on the left side of the penalty area to get into a shooting position but Neshcheret reacted to his shot and held the ball.
Omonia gradually seized the initiative, getting closer and closer to Dynamo’s goal. In the 29th minute Neofytou broke into the penalty area from the left inside channel and, despite Karavaiev’s challenge, shot past the goal. But in the 33rd minute his teammates sent Andreou on a breakthrough along the right side of the box and Popov, attempting to stop him, clipped him, leading the referee to award a penalty. Semedo converted from the spot, striking into the corner. Although Neshcheret guessed the direction, he couldn’t parry it – 1:0.
Just a few minutes later Dynamo had a good chance to equalize. Pikhalonok received the ball on the left wing of the attack, cut inside and unexpectedly shot from outside the box but the ball went just wide of the far post. And on the last minute of first-half stoppage time Pikhalonok delivered an excellent through pass that sent Ogundana through on goal but instead of shooting Shola attempted to pass to Voloshyn, only for a defender to block the ball out for a corner. In additional time “white-blues” pressed the opponents deep and Voloshyn struck powerfully from distance after a corner and a failed clearance but the goalkeeper tipped the ball from under the crossbar. As a result teams went into halftime with a minimal advantage for the hosts.
At the break Popov who had picked up a painful back injury was replaced by Dubinchak, and Mykhavko moved into his usual centre-back role. With the game resuming Dynamo took control of the ball but they couldn’t create the kind of chances that might lead to a goal. Hosts, meanwhile, took advantage of theirs. In the 59th minute during a counterattack down the left flank a teammate found Neofytou whose first-time strike rattled the crossbar and then he reacted first to the rebound heading the ball into the empty net – 2:0.
Hosts, now enjoying a comfortable lead, continued to attack. In one episode Andreou was inches away from finishing a dangerous low cross from Kitsos on the left flank. At the same time credit must be given to the Dynamo players who didn’t give up and kept searching for their moment. And they had them – for example, after a corner Guerrero headed the ball goalward but the goalkeeper reacted and pulled it from under the crossbar. In another moment, after a switch of play from the right flank to the far side of the penalty area, Voloshyn controlled the ball and shot with his second touch but goalkeeper again managed to save it.
Unfortunately until the final whistle “white-blues” couldn’t score even a consolation goal and instead they could have conceded a third. In the 85th minute Jovetić “forgave” Dynamo when he latched onto a lofted pass but Neshcheret managed to tip his shot from the goal area over the bar. And in the last minute of regular time, Andreou connected with a first-time shot after a low cross but fired just wide.
In the end Dynamo suffer a defeat that leaves them with three points and outside the top 24 – the position needed to qualify for the Conference League playoff round. Their next European match under Oleksandr Shovkovskyi will be played away against Fiorentina on December 11.
Conference League, Main Stage, Matchday 4
Omonia – Dynamo – 2:0 (1:0)
27.11.2025, Nicosia, GSP Stadium
Omonia: Uzohо – Masouras, Simic, Agouzoul, Kitsos – Maric (Kousoulos, 83), Evandru, Erakovic (Eiting, 83), Andreou, Semedo (Chatzigiovanis, 72) – Neofytou (Jovetić, 73).
Dynamo: Neshcheret – Karavaiev, Popov (Dubinchak, 46), Thiare, Mykhavko – Mykhailenko, Rubchynskyi (Buialskii, 60), Pikhalonok (Yatsyk, 79), Kabaiev, Ogundana (Guerrero, 63) – Voloshyn (Ponomarenko, 79).
Goals: Semedo (34, pen), Neofytou (59).
Booked: Maric (4), Uzohо (75) – Popov (33), Mykhailenko (45+2), Kabaiev (45+2), Thiare (57), Guerrero (79).
