---
title: "Chornomorets returns to the elite: how Herich's penalty decided the fate of the UPL ticket"
description: "Chornomorets returns to the UPL! 🏆 Herich's penalty decided the fate of the elite ticket. Bukovyna is the First League champion, while Vorskla may withdraw from the tournament. 📉⚽"
date: 2026-06-01T14:40:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/chornomorets-returns-to-the-elite-how-herichs-penalty-decided-the-fate-of-the-upl-ticket
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Chornomorets returns to the elite: how Herich's penalty decided the fate of the UPL ticket

![FC Chornomorets players joyfully celebrate their return to the Ukrainian Premier League after Gerich's decisive penalty.](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/01/chernomorets-vernuilsya-v-elitu-penalti-gericha-reshil-sudbu-putevki-v-upl/chernomorets-vernuilsya-v-elitu-penalti-gericha-reshil-sudbu-putevki-v-upl-1.webp)

The Ukrainian First League season has concluded, and its finale offered spectators true drama. The Odesa-based Chornomorets, under the guidance of Roman Hryhorchuk, returned to the elite, winning a tense virtual duel for a direct ticket to the Ukrainian Premier League (UPL). This happened just a year after their relegation from the top division.

### Duel with Livyi Bereh

Before the final round, the situation was extremely tense. The direct promotion to the UPL was contested between the Odesa team and Kyiv's Livyi Bereh. For Chornomorets, the only salvation was a victory over Kharkiv's Metalist, as their rivals from the capital had already confidently defeated Petrove's Inhulets with a score of 3:1. Shastal, Vikentiy, and Nazar Voloshyn scored for the Kyivians, while Tuzenko scored for the hosts.

### The Deciding Penalty

The match in Kharkiv turned out to be tough and nerve-wracking. The fate of the Odesa team was decided by one precise strike. In the 62nd minute (according to other sources, the 63rd), the referee awarded a penalty to Metalist for a foul in the box. Vladyslav Herich, a forward on loan from Kyiv's Dynamo, stepped up and calmly converted the kick — 1:0. This single goal allowed Chornomorets to reach 65 points and take second place in the table, securing a direct ticket to the UPL.

### Historic Success for Bukovyna

The first ticket to the elite was guaranteed much earlier by Chernivtsi's Bukovyna. The team, under the guidance of ambitious management, clinched the First League gold medals early, as early as the 24th round. For the Chernivtsi club, this is a historic achievement: the club returns to the top division for the first time in the last 32 years.

The final match of the season between Zaporizhzhia's Metallurg and Bukovyna will take place on Tuesday, June 2, but it no longer has tournament significance. For the final promotion to the UPL, both clubs must pass the certification procedure at the UAF.

### Unexpected Season Results

The final matchday of the First League brought many emotions and surprises. The main underdogs of the season were Khmelnytskyi's Podillya and Zaporizhzhia's Metallurg, who took the last two places. However, there are rumors in the corridors about the possible withdrawal of Poltava's Vorskla from the championship. If this happens, Podillya will get a chance to play in the play-off matches against a representative of the Second League.