Former forward of Kyiv’s «Dynamo» Viktor Leonenko commented on the draw in the match of the 26th round of the Ukrainian championship between «Shakhtar» and «Dynamo».
Viktor Leonenko— Viktor Yevhenovych, how did you find the match, did the expectations for the Classic meet?
— Each team played well and poorly in one half. For the fans, I think it was a wonderful game. In the second half, «Dynamo» played like champions. They pushed «Shakhtar» into their penalty area and did not let go. It should not have been 2:2, it should have been 6:2. The post, Vanat missed from four meters, or even from three. For me, «Dynamo» won this match if we take the second half as a basis.
I also want to congratulate the main referee of the match Romanov. Thank you for not ruining anything and for officiating well.
— Let’s analyze the first half.
— I think «Shakhtar» was surprised themselves. They had not even stepped onto the field yet, and they already earned a penalty. Mykhavko had a minus mark twice. First, he slipped in midfield, and then he gave away an unnecessary penalty in his own goal.
After that, «Shakhtar» could have changed tactics and played on counterattacks, but here they started to show off, trying to thread the ball between feet — and for the Brazilians, life was good. However, they were lucky; the second goal happened. Popov probably does not know that you cannot clear the ball on the penalty area line. Any footballer knows that, even a child from the «Leather Ball» tournament.
Matviyenko shot with his cheek. It is unclear why Neshcheret jumped so seriously after Matviyenko’s weak shot. Eгinald was really surprised: «Oh, the ball!», and scored a «difficult» goal.
Thus, «Shakhtar» led 2:0, doing nothing, two goals were gifted by the Kyiv defenders. «Dynamo» in the first half was like «Torpedo», while in the second it turned into a championship-level «Dynamo».
— Did you believe after the first half that the intrigue would be revived?
— I don’t like to speculate, but «Dynamo» should not have had any chances at all. However, after the break, completely different teams came onto the field. I didn’t recognize «Shakhtar» at all! What is Pushich training there?! The «miners» players don’t know where to run and what to do. From the first minute of the second half, «Dynamo» played like the champions of Ukraine. It felt like «Shakhtar» was playing with nine players.
— Let’s discuss Vanat’s goal.
— Right away, I will praise Dubinchak. Good job! He made many crosses from the flank, some teams don’t even do that much in a game. After the cross from the side, his mate Hram somehow managed to lose the best goalscorer of the championship — Vanat. This is not even kindergarten and not the city championship! Although, Ryzhyk could have helped too — to come out and take the ball off Vanat’s head.
After that, »Dynamo» had moments after moments. «Shakhtar» in the second half fielded a completely different team — no moments, no ball control.
— And what about Kabayev’s heroic goal in added time — how do you feel about it?
— Just imagine! A person from 11 meters fires at the goal and doesn’t hit anyone. It’s amazing! Where were the «Shakhtar» players? After this match, I’m not surprised that «Shakhtar» is losing points in the championship.
I don’t know what to do with such a game for our teams in European competitions. Look at Shaparenko! Our midfielders, who couldn’t play high balls, still can’t — nothing changes! Instead of hitting, he just passed the ball. «Dynamo» actually outplayed «Shakhtar» with ten men because Buialskyi somehow disappeared.
Shovkovskyi could have laid into his players because you cannot play like this in the first half, and in the second — not convert a ton of chances. Don’t forget our national team is also playing by halves. The only comforting thing is that in the second half, «Dynamo» truly played like champions.
— Did the absence of Sudakov due to injury significantly affect «Shakhtar’s» game?
— I think, in the second half, he would have run just as much as the other «Shakhtar» players and watched how «Dynamo» played. But in the first half, Sudakov wasn’t particularly needed; «Dynamo» itself made two gifts. Sudakov definitely wouldn’t have saved «Shakhtar», because the «miners» players don’t know what to do on the field, just like Pushich. The Brazilians are only trying to show off.
— Before the game, you told me that you would rather sweep in the yard than watch the UPL matches. Honestly, during the Classic, did you want to take a broom in your hands?
— I have already cleaned all the leaves in the yard. A small clarification — I didn’t use a broom, I gathered them with a rake. The first half of the Classic could have been skipped without any worry; and in the second — you could throw down the rake and watch the championship «Dynamo» and how «Shakhtar» plays with rake-like tactics.
— Do you think after this game Akhmetov will dismiss Pushich or give him time to work until the end of the season?
— If I were in Rinat Leonidovych’s place, I would have long made conclusions and dismissed Pushich. «Shakhtar» showed absolutely nothing, they only scored two goals from the delivery by Dynamo players! No shots, no attacks! «Shakhtar» is no longer fighting for anything in the championship, so why keep Pushich?
— Who will you give the «Lion of the Match» award to?
— I would name Dubinchak as «Lion of the Match». He did the most work today. Fantastic play on the flank — running, crossing. I think ViychARENKO won’t get into the lineup soon if Dubinchak keeps playing like this. Vlad did a lot on the left flank today.
— And now let’s choose the «Anti-Lion of the Match», who was the worst?
— The entire «Shakhtar» team, spearheaded by Pushich. It feels like the team gathered for the first time under his leadership; previously, they hadn’t seen each other for ages! And if I were to choose among the players, it would be Hram.
I really don’t understand what he is doing in «Shakhtar», if he can’t even keep one person in the penalty area, Vanat.
— How do you rate the game of the veteran — Andriy Mykolaiovych Yarmolenko?
— As always. A bunch of unnecessary touches, like he did 10 years ago. Sometimes he manages, but in such a championship, at the level of a city championship, why wouldn’t he manage? He is given three hours to make a decision! I too can come out at 55 and do the same. No one takes the ball from him, the whole team in orange is in the penalty area. Beauty!
— What’s your opinion on Mykhavko? He made a mistake in the penalty moment, but many experts highlight his potential that he could grow into the second Zabarnyi.
— Send my regards to such experts. Mykhavko already «showed his colors» in the sixth minute. Good job! Who cares that he is young? He made it 0:1. Everyone can grow to Zabarnyi’s level. The key word is «can». But today I saw that Mykhavko gifted a goal in his own net and made two childlike mistakes in 30 seconds — he slipped in midfield and earned an unnecessary penalty.
— Did you see players in the Classic ready to move to a top championship?
— I look in the European competitions, and there — I don’t see anyone.
— Are you ready to preemptively congratulate «Dynamo» on the championship?
— I have long congratulated «Dynamo» on the championship. But just in case, I prepared bags for the players, if they don’t win the gold medals, to throw from the bridge — and not from Paton, but from the Southern one, because it will be higher. I am glad that «Dynamo» played like champions, albeit in one half. But still, it means they can.
— If «Dynamo» plays in the Champions League qualification just like they did in the second match against «Shakhtar», will they reach the group stage?
— Of course, they will! Although… Much will depend on the opponents. In European competitions, opponents won’t just stand around their penalty area, watching how «Dynamo» plays. They will be running and working hard.
— And will you risk congratulating «Oleksandriya» on the second place?
— Oleksandriya deserves the second place even based on their game. Most likely, they will win the silver medals. So, I congratulate them too. The main thing is that injuries and referees don’t hinder.
Andriy Piskun
