Former Ukrainian national team player Volodymyr Mikitin shared his impressions of the confrontation between Breidablik and Zorya in the Conference League.
Vladimir Mikitin- The teams were roughly equal in class, although they adopted different tactical schemes. The Luhansk side played with five midfielders, first of all, making sure to meet their opponents tightly in the middle zone and create difficulties on the way to their possession. This plan generally worked.
- In your opinion, did Breidablik surprise head coach Valeriy Kriventsov?
- I don't think so. The Icelandic team acted in their usual forceful manner, counting on dividends from the aerial duels they won. However, it didn't happen as expected. The visitors were ready for one-on-one battles after long passes and did not concede on the first floor. The main thing was to keep cool in the opening period, repel the first massive attacks of the hosts and gradually look for their chance in counterattacks or when playing the same standard positions. By the way, Luhansk's Gorbach scored the winning goal at the end of the first half, having proved stronger than the Icelandic defender.
- How can you explain the fact that Zorya, controlling the course of events on the pitch for a long time, unexpectedly gave up the initiative at the end of the match?
- I think that Zorya made the right decision, deciding to play for the result. Each of the Luhansk side clearly knew what to do in this or that situation and there were almost no real threats. When the ball did fly into the goal, it was keeper Turbayevsky who was at his best. In my opinion, Zorya deservedly took three points.
- In the next round of the group stage of the Conference League Zorya will go to Tel Aviv, where they will meet Maccabi.
- There will also be a battle for six points. Maccabi players, after the defeat in Belgium, must win to keep their chances of qualifying for the next round. In my opinion, Maccabi is superior to Breidablik, but Zorya have enough time to properly prepare for the trip to Israel during the October break in the UPL championship and not to return with empty luggage.
