In Ukraine the war has been going on for more than eight years, the large-scale invasion has been going on for about eight months. But so far, Uzhgorod has not felt the vagaries of the war in terms of football. This season, thirteen UPL games have been played in the capital of Transcarpathia (and on the outskirts of Uzhgorod) and none have been interrupted due to anxiety. Two have been suspended today.
Speaking of the events in Minai, where Vorskla hosted Rukh, can be found in the adjacent relationship.. Here – on the opposition of the two poles of the ranking. “Dnepr-1” as the leader of the tournament and “Ingulets” as one of the fighters for survival. Under the usual conditions, the progress and the result of the match certainly could not surprise, but in conditions of almost an hour and a half of “downtime” due to anxiety, anything could happen … Someone could lose the tone, and someone, on the contrary, could restore energy.
Everything is clear with Ingulets’ starting lineup. The team does not waste their forces in another tournament. In addition, Petrov’s team played the game of the previous seventh round in advance, having received the opportunity to prepare specifically for Dnipro-1 for more than a week. Another thing is Kucher’s team. He has a really busy schedule. Perhaps this is the reason for the absence of goalkeeper Valef in the question, who has not missed a single match so far. Among the surprises is also the defense of Loginov. Busanello was resting.
The first half did not form a solid impression. Not only for the forced break, but also for the lack of a significant offensive play by both teams. “Dnepr-1” had a lot of ball possession and played his attacks for a long time, but he lightly hit the door. A cross in the direction of Dovbik long remained the only real chance for the nominal hosts, but then he fired the one that often helps the team in difficult situations. No, not Dovbik – Adamyuk. With a header, he carefully blocked Amash’s canopy from the flag.
It was difficult for “Ingulets” to come to terms with such a reality. After all, the team had more obvious opportunities to excel than the opponent. The partners managed to bring Nagiyev “on a date” with Yurchuk, but the goalkeeper proved that the lack of practice in the match does not harm his reaction and skill. So Zaporozhets punched deep, but this duel was won by Yurchuk. Perhaps this is the difference in the class: when one team scores from minimal chances while the other fails to score good chances.
That’s right, but sometimes the class is helpless when mistakes are made in key positions. In particular, like the goalkeeper. Nothing foreshadowed trouble in this particular episode, but early in the second half Dnepr-1 missed due to Yurchuk’s unsuccessful play on the way out. He tried to intercept Sakiva’s free-kick but missed the ball. Smolyakov had the opportunity to strike and shoot inconspicuously. But the frame was already unprotected.
“Ingulets” felt the weakness of the opponent and tried to take advantage of it. At least later he created another great moment. Even double. Nagiyev went “one on one” with the goalkeeper but lost the duel against Yurchuk. Klimenko ends up out of range, but hits the frame (after a bounce from Svatok).
Something clearly did not go according to Kucher’s plan, but the manager failed to influence the game in time. The confusion in the zone of responsibility of the defensive midfielders prevented Klimenko’s pass from the flank from grabbing a bite, and the unsuccessful play of the central defenders did not help to stop Smolyakov, who jumped out from behind – 1: 2.
Dnepr-1 already had attacks. Specifically, Adamyuk could do a double. There was another episode during which Dovbik apparently got punched. But really “scared” Pikhalyonok. He played an attack from the center of the field, then picked up the ball in the area of responsibility of the defensive midfielders and hit the center with precision. A similar goal was scored by this player against Vaduz.
Dnipro-1 tried to snatch the win (Dovbik and Baluli had a chance) – you can’t refuse Kucher’s team in this. But this time, the trick that happened in the matches with Vaduz and Rukh – goals scored in the last seconds – didn’t happen. Under the first alarm sirens, Dnipro-1 loses the first points in the championship. Sooner or later it had to happen.
UPL 8th lap. 19.10.2022
Uzhgorod. “Avant-garde” stadium
The referee is Alexander Sandor
SC “Dnepr-1” – “Dimensions” 2: 2
Targets: Vladimir Adamyuk 45 + 1, Alexander Pikhalyonok 68 – Artem Smolyakov 55, Artem Smolyakov 66
SC “Dnepr-1”: Valery Yurchuk, Vladimir Adamyuk (Vladimir Tanchyk 70), Eduard Sarapiy, Artem Dovbyk, Aleksey Hutsuliak, Yanis Amash, Sergey Loginov (Alexander Nazarenko 59), Valentin Rubchinsky (Artem Gromov 59, Fares Baluli 80), Domingo Blanco (Ihor Kogut 80) , Alexander Svatok, Alexander Pyhalyonok
“Inglec”: Daniil Kucher, Evgeny Zaporozhets (Andrey Korobenko 90 + 2), Vladislav Klimenko (Maxim Marusich 85), Alexander Kucherenko, Sergey Chenbay, Vladislav R. Sidorenko, Vitaly Pavlov, Artem Smolyakov (Daniil Kravchuk 76), Dmitry Nagiyev (Vladimir Odukary 76) , Tara Sakiv, Andrey Kukharuk
Warning: Sergei Chenbai 75, Daniil Kucher 81
