Dynamo opened its defense of the Ukrainian Cup with a minimal win over Niva: Tiare's goal from a corner sent the Kyiv side into the round of 16

The reigning Ukrainian Cup holders started their defense of the trophy in the 2026/27 season with a win over Vinnytsia's Niva, a Second League representative. The round-of-16 match ended 0:1 in favor of the Kyiv side, with the only goal scored by defender Aliou Tiare, who finished off a corner kick in the 50th minute. For Dynamo, this result was a working one: the team confidently moved on and is now focused on the round of 16 of the tournament.

Niva started actively, but class told

The home side did not hide behind ten men in defense and threw themselves into the game. By the middle of the first half, Niva had created several decent chances in front of the Kyiv goal, the sharpest of which came in the 24th minute: Melnyk struck a powerful shot from outside the penalty area, but the ball hit the crossbar with force. This strike was perhaps Vinnytsia's best opportunity to change the course of the match, but Dynamo's goalkeeper and the goal frame saved the visitors from conceding.

Tiare from a corner: the only goal of the match

As the match developed, the difference in class between the players became ever more apparent. It was the Kyiv side that created most of the danger in front of Niva's goal, yet the score remained unchanged until the 50th minute. The turning point came right after the break: Aliou Tiare, playing as a defender, won the aerial duel from a corner and precisely sent the ball into the net. This goal was the only one of the match and determined its outcome.

Kyiv control and the road to the round of 16

After the goal was scored, the tempo of the game noticeably dropped. Dynamo no longer pushed forward with the same intensity, preferring to tightly control the flow of the match and not allow dangerous moments in front of their own goal. Niva tried to equalize, but never created a real threat to the visitors' goal. In the end, the minimal 0:1 win was enough for the Kyiv side, and the team sealed their passage to the round of 16 of the Ukrainian Cup.

Round of 16 to conclude: September 16–17

The round-of-16 stage of the 2026/27 Ukrainian Cup is not yet complete: the final six matches of this round will take place on September 16 and 17. Earlier at this stage, Polissya had defeated Kudrivka, and now Kyiv's Dynamo has joined them. Thus, the reigning Cup champions begin their defense of the trophy with a confident step, although several more rounds of competition lie ahead.