On Sunday, October 18, Dynamo played their Matchday 9 fixture in the Ukrainian Premier League. The White-Blues travelled to Zhytomyr to face local side Polissya. The match brought together two teams occupying neighbouring positions in the standings. Dynamo’s opponents were second with 19 points from eight matches, while our team had played seven league games, collected 16 points and sat in third place. It should be noted that goalkeeper Heorhii Bushchan was unavailable for the match due to the terms of his loan agreement.
The opening minutes of the round’s central match brought serious difficulties for the hosts, as the game got underway in a way they had certainly not planned. In one incident, goalkeeper Kudryk attempted to pass the ball to his midfielder, but Brazhko got there first and tried to direct the ball towards goal. The goalkeeper had no choice but to stop the ball with his hand outside his penalty area. After a VAR review, the referee showed Kudryk a red card. As a result, Polissya were reduced to ten men from the fifth minute.
Dynamo took advantage of their numerical superiority relatively quickly. Shaparenko delivered an excellent cross from the corner flag, and defender Mykhavko, who had joined the attack for the set piece, rose highest and headed the ball into the net. It went in off the post to make it 0:1.
It did not take long for Polissya, despite being a man down, to equalise. The goal also came from a set piece: Andriievskyi delivered a corner, Krasnopir won the aerial duel and sent a precise header from a few metres out into the near corner – 1:1.
The game was entertaining and dynamic, with both teams regularly threatening each other’s goal, while the fans in the stands passionately supported their favourites. Unfortunately, the teams did not even manage to complete the first half before the air raid alert sounded, forcing everyone to head to shelter.
After approximately 40 minutes, play resumed with the same intensity and heightened emotions, and both teams returned to the battle for victory with renewed energy. On one occasion, Neshcheret had to rescue his team with an impressive save following Krasnopir’s set-piece effort. In another incident, Sarapii attempted an overhead kick after a cross from the flank, but the visitors managed to clear the ball. The teams went into the break with the score level.
The second half was just as exciting and tense. Ponomarenko fired a free kick over the bar, while closer to the midway point of the half, the visitors continued to create dangerous opportunities despite enjoying more possession. There was plenty of action at the opposite end, too. In one incident, Neshcheret collided with Chobotenko, who had headed the ball down for a teammate. Following a VAR review, the referee awarded a penalty to the hosts. Krasnopir converted confidently from the spot to complete his brace and put Polissya ahead 2:1.
Ba almost equalised immediately afterwards, but luck was not on his side. Dubinchak then aimed for the near corner, only for Volynets to make the save, while Ba was unable to make the most of the rebound. The hosts, however, proved far more clinical with their next opportunity. Mykhailichenko rolled the ball into Krasnopir’s path, and the forward broke clear of the defenders, rounded the goalkeeper and slotted the ball into the empty net to make it 3:1.
Towards the end of the match, Dubinchak curled an effort towards the corner of the goal but narrowly missed the target. When stoppage time began, play was interrupted once again by an air raid alert. Once it had ended, the teams had just two minutes left to complete the match.
Ultimately, the White-Blues suffered a 1:3 defeat. Dynamo will play their next Ukrainian league fixture on Friday, October 23, when they host Kudrivka, a club from the settlement of the same name in Chernihiv Region, in Matchday 10.
UPL. Matchday 9
Polissya – Dynamo – 3:1 (1:1)
October 18, 2026. Zhytomyr, Central city stadium Polissya
Polissya: 1. Kudryk, 31. Maisuradze, 44. Chobotenko, 5. Sarapii (c), 15. Mykhailichenko, 22. Araujo, 18. Andriievskyi (8. Babenko, 60), 45. Braharu (55. Krushynskyi, 60), 11. Leandro Andrade (16. Krasniqi, 8), 10. Veleten (23. Volynets, 8), 95. Krasnopir (89. Haiduchyk, 81).
Dynamo: 35. Neshcheret, 5. Sych, 94. Kędziora, 32. Mykhavko, 44. Dubinchak, 6. Brazhko, 15. Rubchynskyi (91. Mykhailenko, 83), 10. Shaparenko (c) (21. Lonwijk, 58), 9. Voloshyn (7. Yarmolenko, 71), 22. Kabaiev (42. Bah, 58), 11. Ponomarenko.
Goals: Krasnopir (26, 68 pen., 76) – Mykhavko (19).
Booked: Maisuradze (45+4), Araujo (45+4), Mykhailichenko (50) – Dubinchak (39), Rubchynskyi (54), Neshcheret (67).
Sent off: Kudryk (5).
