Oleksandr Lipenko's column. Four contenders for the Cup of Ukraine

The final match of the 32nd Ukrainian Cup final is scheduled for 15 May in Rivne (at the Avangard stadium).

The competition for the prize started on 29 July 2023. Among the 51 contenders for the Cup were 16 UPL clubs, 20 clubs from the First League, 11 from the Second League and 4 representatives of amateur football.

47 clubs were left out of the tournament, 4 teams, all representing the Premier League, continue to fight.

23 April should be held two semifinal meetings. They will be contested by: "Shakhtar" (Donetsk) - "Chornomorets" (Odessa) and "Polesie" (Zhytomyr) - "Vorskla" (Poltava).

Three teams from this quartet know the taste of winning cup finals.

"Shakhtar" has won the trophy 13 times, the first time in 1993, the 13th - in 2019.

Two times the cup triumph was experienced by the Odessians (1992, 1994), once the Cup had a Poltava residence (2009).

I will remind, two more clubs won the Cup of Ukraine - Dynamo Kyiv owned 13 times and Simferopol "Tavria" 1 time.

For now the prize is in the museum of Dynamo in the capital. On 13 May 2021 (pre-war), the Kyivians beat (1:0) Lugansk "Zarya". Viktor Tsygankov's goal in the 90th minute brought the cup victory to the Bilo-Syni.

In the season-2022/2023 the cup tournament was not held due to the military aggression of the Moscow fascists in Ukraine.

The winner of the Cup of our country represents Ukrainian football in the Europa League.

The favourite of the current draw is Shakhtar, whose players are dreaming of the 14th Cup summit.

However, the Cup tournaments have brought sensations. Who could have guessed that Dynamo would lose to Kyiv Obolon Kyiv already in the opening match of the current competition. Obviously, the UPL debutant - "Polesie" - will try to give a fight to "Vorskla". So far, the Cup has been held by five clubs.

Who this time will make a lap of honour with the prize on May 15, we have not long to wait.

Oleksandr LIPENKO for Dynamo.kiev.ua