In the first match of the Europa League qualifiers, Kryvbas lost to Victoria from the Czech Republic - 1-2. Former player of the national team of Ukraine and Kryvbas Andriy Polunin shared his impressions of yesterday's match in the Slovak city of Kosice:
- I liked the way Yuriy Vernydub's team played in the first half. Each player clearly knew his maneuver, the game made a holistic impression and the Ukrainian team could have gone into the break with a bigger lead.
- But immediately after the break, Kryvbas was a completely different team. Why?
- It is difficult for me to explain these changes in the mood of the nominal hosts. Perhaps they decided that the victory would not go away from them and therefore slowed down. And the experienced Victoria needed just that. The guests began to meet the Kryvyi Rih team more actively in their half of the field, and mistakes were made. Apparently, Kryvbas was also thrown off track by a quickly conceded goal. As the Czechs continued to press, it was felt that it was becoming increasingly difficult for Kryvyi Rih to escape the pressure. Another loss of the ball near their possession led to the second goal - 1-2.
- Victoria continued to maintain a high pace, but it turned out that Kryvbas could add to the intensity.
- That's why it's a shame that Kryvbas woke up only when they conceded for the second time. There were opportunities to escape, but the realization failed. It is a pity that everything ended on a minor note, that Ukraine did not replenish its points in the UEFA coefficient table again.
- After this home defeat, how do you assess Kryvbas' chances of moving on?
- I am optimistic. Kryvbas has every chance to take revenge in Pilsen. Only the manager Yuriy Vernydub, first of all, needs to find out the reasons for the failure of his team at the beginning of the second half and draw the right conclusions. It is important that Kryvbas is a fighting, high-speed team that tries to play vertical football. I just wish their aim was good. "Victoria does not give the impression of an impenetrable opponent.
Maksym Kovalenko