Former striker of Kyiv Dynamo Valeriy Porkuyan shared his impressions of the match of his former team against Donetsk Shakhtar (2:2) in the 26th round of the Ukrainian Championship.
Valeriy Porkuyan— In difficult times for the country, such matches are a breath of fresh air not only for fans but also for football specialists and journalists. Just recently, matches between Dynamo and Shakhtar were held 3-4 times a season — besides the two matches in the championship, there were also games for the Super Cup, and often the paths of the Dynamo players and the miners crossed in the final of the national cup. But the war has scrambled the cards, and enjoying the game of the two best teams in Ukraine has become less frequent. That is why it is all the more pleasant to witness these principled confrontations.
— What would you highlight in the Sunday game of Shakhtar and Dynamo?
— First of all, the fighting qualities of the Dynamo players. Trailing 0:2 after the first half, they returned to the field after the break with a completely different mindset. It was evident to the naked eye that the Kyiv team had drawn conclusions during their time in the locker room. I assume that the coaching staff, led by Oleksandr Shovkovskyi, found the right words that positively influenced the players. The Dynamo players were charged for battle and immediately began to take control of the game. With each passing minute, it became increasingly difficult for the miners to contain the attacks of the Kyiv team.
It is worth noting the veteran of Dynamo, Yarmolenko, who is now a true leader and authority not only on the field but also in the locker room. If anyone says that this player lacks certain qualities due to his age — there’s no need to focus on that. After all, he has experience, and that is the main thing. Before the match with Shakhtar, Yarmolenko proved his high skill in three consecutive games, scoring important goals. And although he did not score in the match against the miners, he contributed to the well-deserved draw.
In this game, Dynamo should have scored the second goal much earlier, but Vanat, Kabayev, and Shaparenko missed excellent opportunities. Nevertheless, Kyivan deserved a second goal — and it happened. Everything is quite logical. The draw reflects the course of events on the field, especially considering that in the first half, Shakhtar looked more convincing.
— Among the VIPs at this match were UAF President Andriy Shevchenko and the head coach of the national team of Ukraine Serhiy Rebrov. What do you think kind of food for thought the national team coach received from this principled derby?
— I think Rebrov already has plenty of thoughts without this match. He has a wealth of experience as a player and has also accumulated it in his role as a coach. When the two leading clubs in the country play, there should be no issues with candidates for the national team. Those players who have repeatedly been called up to the main team or are its veterans are always under the close scrutiny of its coaching staff. Just like those who play in foreign clubs.
— How do you see the finish of the championship?
— I am confident that Dynamo will manage to win the gold medals, although the breath of the main competitor, Oleksandriia, cannot be overlooked. The Alexandrians, in turn, do not forget to look back and make sure to prevent Shakhtar from catching up to them. Every round in the fight for medals will maintain intrigue and keep everyone on edge.
The same applies to the battle for the fourth, European cup, spot. This will be contested among three teams — Polissia, Karpaty, and Kryvbas. In my opinion, the best chances belong to Yuriy Vernydub’s team: firstly, they have a postponed match in hand, and secondly, they have the best schedule.
If we talk about the battle for survival in the elite, then even today, Kolos and LNZ, which are in 10th and 11th places, cannot feel safe regarding the potential threat of ending up in the playoff zone.
Vyacheslav Kulchytskyi
