Igor Belanov: "Dynamo forced Shakhtar to defend, which very few can afford in the championship"

Former Dynamo Kyiv forward Igor Belanov commented on the defeat of his former team from Shakhtar Donetsk (0:1) in yesterday's match of the 28th round of the Ukrainian championship.

- I congratulate Shakhtar on the victory. The Pitmen got it deservedly, in an equal fight. The fate of the match was decided by a single goal. However, the nature of the game made it clear that whoever scored would have a good chance of winning the game.

The level of tension and responsibility of the players of both teams was quite high, because in a match of this kind, a mistake or indiscretion can be costly. It so happened that during Sikan's shot on Dynamo's goal the ball from close range hit Vivcharenko's hand and after VAR review the referee awarded a penalty.

Dynamo should be praised, who, despite the score 0:1, played their game and looked for opportunities to change the situation. However, despite all their attempts, Oleksandr Shovkovskiy's team lacked a bit in the final phase of the attack. "Shakhtar, on the other hand, played for results, relying on counterattacks.

- In this game, each of the halves was different. If in the first half the Pitmen were more convincing, then in the second half Dynamo were more convincing.

- Exactly so. The team from the capital had nothing to lose, so they were forced to go forward. The Dynamo coaching staff decided to strengthen the game and add spice to it by releasing the experienced Yarmolenko for the second half. Yarmolenko tried his best, but the Donets acted quite attentively in defence, not allowing the opponent to create a hundred-percent goal opportunities. Although there were many approaches to the goal. The important thing is that Dynamo forced the Pitmen to defend, which is something very few opposing teams can afford in the league.

- Did the match fulfil your expectations?

- I was rooting for good football and fair play. In terms of the number of shots on goal and meaningful attacks the match was good, but as for the goals.... Frankly speaking, I would have liked more goals and drama. However, this match was like a cup final in terms of its status, in which the result is the main thing. I think that the match, in which quite a few national team players played, gave additional information for the coach of our national team Sergey Rebrov. Now the main thing is that none of them should be injured in the games that remain until the end of the season.

Vladimir Klepach