3 – 1
“Oleksandr Andriyevskyi breaks the deadlock to give Polissya Zhytomyr the lead, converting after a build-up that included two early corners suggesting Polissya had been threatening set-piece situations.”
Pivotal“Sergiy Chobotenko doubles Polissya's lead to 2-0 just minutes into the second half, capitalising on the disruption caused by Metalist's double substitution at 53' and 58' which had reshaped their shape.”
Pivotal“Maksym Bragaru, introduced as a substitute at 58 minutes, scores just seven minutes after coming on to make it 3-0, assisted by Bogdan Mykhaylychenko, effectively ending Metalist's hopes of a comeback.”
Pivotal“Peter Mandela Itodo pulls one back for Metalist 1925 Kharkiv to make it 3-1, providing a late consolation after a corner routine, though the deficit was far too large to inspire any genuine belief in a comeback.”
Polissya Zhytomyr
Metalist 1925 Kharkiv
Outstanding performance
Polissya Zhytomyr•DefenderPolissya Zhytomyr were disciplined and clinical, defying a possession deficit of 40-60 to claim a commanding 3-1 victory over Metalist 1925 Kharkiv. Despite Metalist controlling the ball for the majority of the contest and generating 28 dangerous attacks to Polissya's 21, it was the home side who proved far more ruthless, converting five of their eight shots on target compared to Metalist's three. Andriyevskyi's opener on 28 minutes gave Polissya the platform, and a wave of second-half substitutions transformed the game — Chobotenko doubled the lead on 61 minutes before Bragaru, freshly introduced from the bench, added a third just four minutes later to put the result beyond doubt. Peter Mandela Itodo's late consolation for Metalist at 82 minutes was scant reward for a side that dominated possession but lacked the cutting edge when it mattered, and this defeat will sting for a Kharkiv outfit that will feel they controlled large portions of the match without ever truly threatening to win it.
How entertaining was this match?
Ruslan Babenko Yellow CardYellow card issued to Ruslan Babenko.
Mykyta Kravchenko comes on for Bogdan Mykhaylychenko.
assist: Ivan Kalyuzhnyi
Goal! Peter Itodo scores, making it 3-1.
Denys Antyukh comes on for Sebastian Alejandro Castillo Perez.
Corner awarded.
Andrusw AraujoYellow CardYellow card for Andrusw Araujo.
On comes Ramik Gadzhyev, off goes Baton Zabergja.
Mykola Gayduchyk replaces Igor Krasnopir.
Ramik Gadzhyev is substituted off for Baton Zabergja.
assist: Bogdan Mykhaylichenko
Goal! Maksim Bragaru scores to make it 3-0, assisted by Bogdan Mykhaylychenko.
Corner awarded.
assist: Leandro Andrade
Goal! The score is now 2-0.
Maksim Bragaru is substituted off for Oleh Andriiovych Fedor.
Oleksandr Nazarenko is on, and Vladyslav Veleten is off.
On comes Peter Itodo, off goes Ermir Rashica.
Oleksandr Yatsyk is on, and Rafael Profini is off.
Yellow card shown.
First half ends with a score of 1-0.
Corner awarded.
Yellow card issued.
assist: Vladyslav Veleten
Goal! The score is now 1-0.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Kick-off! The referee is Viktor Kopievskiy.
Two evenly matched sides go head-to-head on Monday night in Zhytomyr, both sitting on three points after opening-weekend wins. Polissya carry home advantage and a historical edge in this fixture, but Metalist 1925 arrive in confident mood and will be eager to close that gap.
