Former goalkeeper of “Karpaty” Andriy Tlumak explained why Dmytro Riznyk won the penalty shootout in the final of the Ukrainian Cup against Ruslan Neshcheret.
— Those who hoped to witness a spectacular confrontation were left disappointed. There was a lot of positional struggle, and since there was a lack of unconventional moves in the final stage of attacks, it hardly led to any scoring chances. It was clear that with such a scenario, a football lottery, as the penalty shootout is also called to determine the winner, was unavoidable.
— Why do you think the events in Zhytomyr unfolded this way?
— I think even the coaches of “Shakhtar” and “Dynamo” were expecting a completely different game from their players. In the memory of the “miners”, it probably stood out how in the recent Classic during the championship “Dynamo” added and dominated after the break, and therefore acted cautiously even after conceding a goal at halftime. As for the “Dynamo” players, they were surprisingly inactive in the transitional phase and did not trouble their opponents with quick counterattacks.
— But, let’s be honest, everyone expected open football, primarily from “Shakhtar,” which needed to definitely win the Cup to avoid a failed season.
— In my opinion, recently the game of “Shakhtar” does not leave a solid impression because the team lacks a qualified defensive midfielder who could effectively act in defense. That is why the “miners” do not play with an open style, as they are uncertain in the back. I recall when “destroyer” Stepanenko was fit, the Donetsk team was more brave and liberated on the pitch.
— After the matter reached the football lottery, did you feel who would draw the lucky ticket?
— Yes, I was convinced that the goalkeeper of “Shakhtar” Riznyk would not let us down, as he has significantly more won duels against the regular penalty takers of opposing teams than his Kyiv colleague Neshcheret. In the end, that’s how it turned out, although it should be noted that “Dynamo” player Karavaev missed his shot poorly from the spot.
— It seems that after yesterday’s final, all teams that will represent Ukraine in the most prestigious European tournaments have been determined.
— Yes, I think that the “Dynamo” players will hold on to their position and will participate in the Champions League, while “Shakhtar” will try their luck in the Europa League. However, to be noticeable, they first need to strengthen their squad.