On Friday, March 13, Dynamo Kyiv played their 20th-round match in the Ukrainian Premier League. At the Valeriy Lobanovskyi Dynamo Stadium “White-Blues” hosted FC Obolon Kyiv in a capital derby.
Before the match Dynamo joined a global initiative supporting people with Down syndrome. Players entered the pitch wearing shirts with numbers designed in a special font created by Anna Vives, a campaign also supported by major clubs such as Paris Saint‑Germain F.C. and FC Barcelona.
Dynamo began the game with total dominance, keeping visitors pinned in their own half while searching for openings in Obolon’s defense. An early chance came in the 8th minute when Pikhalonok fired from the left edge of the penalty area but goalkeeper saved his effort. Yarmolenko attempted the rebound but shot over the bar.
Yarmolenko soon created another opportunity, delivering a soft cross toward Bohdan Redushko, whose header lacked power. Later, after a cross from Vivcharenko, Ponomarenko controlled the ball in the box but sent his shot over the goal.
Despite Dynamo’s pressure Obolon struck first in the 20th minute. Following a cross from the left flank Ustymenko managed to finish from the center of the penalty area after his first attempt was blocked – 0:1.
Conceded goal did not shake Dynamo. Hosts continued attacking with several attempts from Pikhalonok and Yarmolenko. Their persistence paid off in the 31st minute. After a long-range shot by Brazhko struck Ustymenko’s hand inside the box referee awarded a penalty following a VAR review. Yarmolenko confidently converted from the spot, sending goalkeeper the wrong way – 1:1.
Dynamo completed the turnaround in the 40th minute. Yarmolenko lifted the ball to Pikhalonok, who quickly passed to Ponomarenko. Forward calmly finished between the goalkeeper’s legs to make it 2:1.
It was Ponomarenko’s eighth goal of the season, putting him level with the league’s top scorers – Pylyp Budkivskyi (Zorya), Mykola Haiduchyk (Polissya) and Baboucar Faal (Karpaty).
After the break Dynamo continued controlling the game and kept Obolon mostly on their own half. However the pace of the match dropped compared to the first half.
Redushko had a shot blocked from the edge of the box while Vivcharenko fired wide from a similar position. Later Yarmolenko nearly assisted another goal with a delicate chip pass to Tymchyk but defender was just a step short of reaching the ball.
Despite several substitutions from both sides overall pattern of the match remained unchanged. Dynamo maintained control and secured a 2:1 victory.
Ukrainian Premier League. Round 20
Dynamo Kyiv – Obolon – 2:1
13 March 2026, Kyiv, Valeriy Lobanovskyi Dynamo Stadium
Dynamo: 35. Neshcheret – 13. Korobov (18. Tymchyk, 46), 40. Bilovar (4. Popov, 84), 32. Mykhavko, 2. Vivcharenko – 6. Brazhko, 5. Yatsyk (91. Mykhailenko, 79), 8. Pikhalonok (29. Buialskii, 70), 7. Yarmolenko (c) (9. Voloshyn, 70), 70. Redushko – 11. Ponomarenko
Obolon: 1. Fedorivskyi (c) – 28. Polehenko, 44. Zhovtenko (22. Feshchenko, 86), 32. Lomnytskyi, 50. Semenov, 5. Shevchenko – 20. Volokhatyi, 17. Chernenko (8. Kulakovskyi, 69), 40. Nesterenko (75. Tretyakov, 59), 24. Prokopenko (99. Tesliuk, 86) – 9. Ustymenko (55. Sukhanov, 69)
Goals: Yarmolenko (31, pen.), Ponomarenko (40) – Ustymenko (20)
Yellow cards: Shevchenko (78), Feshchenko (90+4)
