On Saturday, September 13, Dynamo played their Matchday 5 fixture of the Ukrainian Championship. The White-Blues visited Obolon, a team representing the northern district of Kyiv, for the city derby. Before the game Obolon were in 7th place in the league table with 7 points from 4 matches. Dynamo had also played 4 matches, winning all of them for 12 points, and sat at the top of the standings.
The match was played after the international break for national team games and began with high intensity. From the opening minutes Dynamo tried to seize the initiative and take control of the game but the hosts pressed actively, slid into tackles with full commitment and intercepted the ball in time, acting in a well-organized manner. Dynamo’s Brazhko and Yarmolenko attempted long-range shots but they didn’t pose real danger.
Obolon nearly took the lead when Nesterenko crossed into the box and Sukhanov headed from close range but somehow failed to hit the target.
Dynamo were more clinical with their chance: after a timely switch of play to the right wing Karavaev struck superbly from the corner of the penalty area into the far top corner, making it 0:1. Soon Brazhko had a chance to double the lead from a free-kick, hitting the target with a bouncing effort, but it was too weak and straight at the keeper. Guerrero was also caught offside in another attack.
The closing minutes of the first half were full of drama. First Bilovar almost back-heeled the ball into the net during a crowded scramble in Obolon’s box but couldn’t get it through. Then the hosts struck back: Chernenko’s one-touch pass set up Nesterenko one-on-one with Neshcheret and he calmly finished to level the score at 1:1.
