Former Dynamo and Ukrainian national team player Volodymyr Yezerskyi told us what prevented Kyiv from keeping the winning score in the first match of the Champions League qualifying round against Glasgow Rangers:
- Yesterday in Lublin, Poland, there were two different halves. Before the break, Dynamo's game made a more holistic impression. Each player clearly knew his maneuver, there was dynamics, skillful play in the selection, quick transitions from defense to offense. Let's recall an episode when the nominal hosts took the lead. There was an interception of the ball in the middle zone, a sharp counterattack, which ended with Yarmolenko's goal. However, this is not to say that the guests were only sitting in defense, they also had scoring chances, but Kyiv had more opportunities to score a second time.
- Why, then, did Dynamo fail to control the course of events on the field after the break?
- The Scots increased their intensity, began to press high, and it turned out that Kyiv did not always manage to get out from under this tight guardianship. Brazhko and Shaparenko could not keep up with the movements of the opponents in the middle zone, but worst of all, Dynamo had problems on the flanks.
- Who is to blame for this?
- In my opinion, the fullbacks had to meet their counterparts higher, instead of watching them combine near the penalty area. Of course, the midfielders had to help them, but yesterday the safety net often let Kyiv down. Therefore, the Scots had plenty of time to look for vulnerabilities in Dynamo's formations.
- Perhaps this outburst of activity of Glasgow Rangers could be leveled by the emergence of fresh players?
- Apparently, the manager Oleksandr Shovkovskyi was also counting on this, but I can't say that the players who came on as substitutes strengthened the game.
- The advantage of the guests was especially noticeable in the last ten minutes, when it seemed that Kyiv were only thinking about keeping the winning score.
- The Scots were boosted by the fact that, thanks to the right choice of position, they started to win the second floor. Our stopper often missed the goal, and it was good that in several episodes keeper Bushchan helped out. However, in stoppage time, the Scots still achieved their goal.
- Before the second leg, do you feel that it will be even harder for Dynamo in Glasgow?
- Nothing terrible happened. In Lublin, from the middle of the second half, Dynamo stopped playing down low, allowing the opponent to get involved in a power struggle. Therefore, Kyiv needs to analyze who is to blame for this and in Scotland try to take control of the ball and annoy the opponent with vertical passes. There will definitely be scoring chances, only if the realization does not fail.
Dmytro Verbinskyi