Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk was the star of the home match in Matchday 3 of the Italian championship, in which Bologna hosted Sassuolo. The forward, who came on as a substitute in the 66th minute, scored the decisive goal in the 90+1st minute and brought the Rossoneri a 2-2 draw. This goal was the 29-year-old Ukrainian's first in official matches in the past six months and his debut goal for his new club, which he joined in the summer from Roma.
A difficult start to the season for Bologna
Bologna have had a very poor start to the new Serie A season: in the first two matchdays the team failed to pick up a single point, losing both matches. As a result, the home game against Sassuolo became a real test of resilience for the coaching staff's side — a third consecutive defeat could have seriously undermined confidence both within the team and among its own supporters, who filled the stands of the home stadium. An additional source of pressure was that Dovbyk had started on the bench for the third time in a row, which raised questions about his status in the squad.
Match progression: from deficit to rescue
The visitors from Sassuolo were the first to score, taking the lead before the break. The start of the second half brought hope to the hosts: Dovbyk's rival in the attacking line, Roberto Piccoli, restored parity by scoring past the opposition. However, the joy of Bologna's fans was short-lived — just six minutes later Sassuolo surged ahead again, scoring a second goal. In the 66th minute, Bologna's coaching staff made a substitution, and Dovbyk came on, given the chance to help the team avoid a third straight defeat.
The 90+1st-minute goal and a yellow card for the emotions
The Ukrainian made the most of the chance given to him. In the 90+1st minute, Dovbyk was first to the follow-up after the rebound and with a second touch sent the ball into the corner of the net, bringing Bologna a precious draw — 2-2. After scoring, the forward, as is customary, took off his shirt in celebration and was shown a yellow card by the referee for it. This episode became the climax of the match and a symbol of Bologna once again rescuing themselves in the final minutes.
First goal in six months and a debut strike for Bologna
For the Ukrainian forward, this goal was his first in official matches in the past six months. Dovbyk had last scored on January 6 while playing for Roma, when his team faced Lecce. Now, after eight months without a goal in official matches, the 29-year-old striker finally opened his scoring account for Bologna, the club he moved to in the summer transfer window. The 90+1st-minute goal not only earned the team a point but also became a personal breakthrough for a player who had previously failed to make his mark in attack at his new club.
Context: the Ukrainian footprint in European football
On the same matchday, another Ukrainian footballer left his mark on European football: in an English Premier League match, Mykolenko and his Everton snatched a draw against Manchester United in the 90+6th minute. Thus, both Ukrainian players became the heroes of late goals on the same day, underscoring the consistently high level of the Ukrainian contingent in the Old Continent's top leagues.
