Kyiv's Dynamo was the first among Ukrainian clubs to kick off the 2026/27 European season. In a nominally home match of the first qualifying round of the Europa League, the "white-blues" faced Romanian Universitatea (Cluj). The game took place in Lublin, Poland, and ended with a tense victory for the Ukrainians in a penalty shootout.
Pressure without goals
Following a 0-0 draw in the first leg, the Kyiv team was obliged to win to continue their tournament journey. Despite no changes in the lineup, the team's motivation was high. From the first minutes, Dynamo took control of the ball and gradually squeezed the opponent into their own penalty area.
The pressure should have borne fruit: in the 17th minute, Redushko headed in a cross from Pikhalko, and in the 22nd, Voloshyn shot past Universitatea's goalkeeper. However, both goals were disallowed for offside. By halftime, the score remained 0-0, although the statistics spoke of clear dominance by the visitors: 8 shots (3 on target) against 3 (0 on target) for the hosts. Yellow cards were issued exclusively to the Romanians.
Fatigue and extra time
In the second half, Universitatea became more active in possession, but only the Kyiv players created sharp moments. Voloshyn, Redushko, and Ponomarenko had excellent chances but failed to convert them. Towards the end of regular time, the fatigue of the Ukrainian giant began to show, leading to dangerous moments in front of Neshcheret's goal. The goalkeeper confidently parried the threats.
After four quarters, the score remained 0-0. The fate of the confrontation was to be decided by an additional 30 minutes. In extra time, the advantage in skill allowed Dynamo to continue dictating the game. However, the most significant event occurred in the 111th minute: Aliyev's rough play against Bilovar led to the Ukrainian defender struggling to recover for a long time.
The decisive penalty shootout
The final whistle confirmed a 0-0 draw, and the fate of the match passed to a penalty shootout. The Kyiv players proved to be more skilled. The main hero was Ruslan Neshcheret, who saved Codru's shot. The Romanian captain, Kipciu, also missed.
Dynamo made no mistakes: Yarmolenko, Brazhko, Ponomarenko, and Lonwijk all converted their penalties. Thanks to this victory, the Kyiv team continues the fight in the Europa League.
The next opponent
The opponent for the second qualifying round is already known — it is the Greek club PAOK. The Kyiv team's matches against the Greeks will take place on July 23 and 30. Dynamo's prospects in European competitions will depend on the team's form and the ability to overcome difficult opponents.
