---
title: "Draw in the opener: Bukovyna and LNZ failed to determine the strongest in the UPL"
description: "In the first round of the UPL, Bukovyna and LNZ drew 0:0. The Cherkasy team dominated the match and took 14 shots on goal, but the hosts' goalkeeper Herman Penkov did not concede. Bukovyna secured its first point of the season. ⚽🤝"
date: 2026-08-03T14:32:01.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/bukovyna-lnz-draw-opener-upl
tags: [ukrainian-premier-league, bukovyna, lnz-cherkasy, upl]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Draw in the opener: Bukovyna and LNZ failed to determine the strongest in the UPL

![Bukovyna player in purple kit and LNZ player in yellow battle for the ball in UPL match ending in a draw](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/03/bukovyna-lnz-nichya-start-upl/bukovyna-lnz-nichya-start-upl-1.webp)

In the opening round of the Ukrainian Premier League, a match took place in Lviv between Chernivtsi's Bukovyna and Cherkasy's LNZ. The game ended in a 0:0 draw, despite the guests holding a clear advantage for most of the match.

### Guest dominance and reliable goalkeeper performance

From the first minutes of the encounter, the initiative belonged to the Cherkasy team. They exerted constant pressure on the opponent's goal, creating threat after threat. The main source of danger for the hosts was LNZ's newcomer Tedi Tsara, who effectively sharpened the game on the left flank. Gennady Pasich and David also created chances, but the execution fell short.

The savior for the Chernivtsi players was their goalkeeper, Herman Penkov. He made a series of reliable saves, stopping dangerous shots from LNZ's attackers. In particular, the goalkeeper parried shots from Tsara and Pasich, while David missed from a few meters out after a cross at a decisive moment.

### First-half statistics

Bukovyna was primarily focused on defense in the first half, attempting to respond with rare counterattacks. By halftime, the score remained 0-0, which was a logical result given the actions of both teams. The statistics of shots on goal spoke eloquently about the balance of power: the guests took 14 shots, while the hosts took only one.

### Second half: missed chances and tough battle

After the break, the picture of the game did not change significantly. In the 55th minute, the Cherkasy team was closest to victory. Denis Kuzik, following a cross by Alexander Drambaev, headed the ball towards the far post, but it missed the target, and Bukovyna's defenders prevented him from tapping it into an empty net.

Later, the coaches of both teams made a series of substitutions to freshen up their squads. In particular, Mark Assinor, Artur Mykytyshyn, and Yegor Tverdokhleb appeared on the field for LNZ. The final segment of the match was marked by a tough battle with a large number of fouls in the center of the field, where opponents tried to intercept control of the ball. However, neither team managed to create truly dangerous moments near each other's goals again.

### Match results

The referee's final whistle recorded a draw — 0:0. This result brought Bukovyna its first point after returning to the elite division of Ukrainian football.