ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 0
DYNAMO KYIV 3
Vanat 13
Buyalskyi 76
Voloshyn 90
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS
H. Bonello, V. Polito (37 M. El Fanis), O. Bjelicic, R. Compri (87 N. Micallef), R. Camenzuli (87 G. Adragna), J. Mbong, J. Cadenovic, E. Marcelina, Eder (73 S. Xerri), D. Simkus, N. Koffi (73 S. Thioune).
DYNAMO KYIV
R. Neshcheret, V. Dubinchak, T. Mykhavko, D. Popov, O. Tymchyk, O. Pikhalonok (66 M. Shaparenko), M. Mykhailenko, V. Buyalskyi (79 V. Brazhko), V. Kabaiev (79 M. Ponomarenko), V. Vanat, A. Yarmolenko (66 N. Voloshyn).
Yellow cards: Bjelicic, Simkus, Koffi, Yarmolenko, Eder, Popov, Vanat.
Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kyiv produced a real show of force when they eased past Ħamrun Spartans to put themselves in control of a place in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.
The Spartans tried to make life difficult for the Ukrainian giants but Dynamo Kyiv proved too strong for the Malta champions as they severely punished the Spartans for every lapse in concentration they committed in defence.
Ħamrun did have a few openings to try and hurt Dynamo Kyiv but the gap in class between both sides was there for all to see and in the end, the Ukrainians cruised to a comfortable victory and took a significant step towards the third qualifying round of the competition.
Coach Modica made one change to the team that beat FK Zalgiris last week as Emerson Marcelina replaced the injured Merlin Hadzi.
Marcelina formed a three-man defence alongside Vincenzo Polito and Ognjen Bjelicic with Ryan Camenzuli and Rafael Compri patrolling the flanks.
As expected Dynamo Kyiv took charge of the match with their slick passing in the opening minutes, with the Spartans’ players chasing them down and trying to hit them with quick transitions on Joseph Mbong and N’Dri Koffi.
Ħamrun almost took the lead on 11 minutes when Eder dispossessed Yarmolenko and stormed inside the area, but his shot was blocked by a Kiev defender.
The Spartans paid dearly for this miss, as in their first real opportunity, Dynamo struck. Vladyslav Kabaiev surged inside the area and sent a low cross into the path of the unmarked Vladyslav Vanat, who beat Henry Bonello from close in.
The Ukrainians threatened again on 21 minutes, when from a Yarmolenko corner kick, the unmarked Popovic headed over.
A misplaced Marcelina pass almost regaled Dynamo Kyiv a second goal as Vanat raced clear, rounded Bonello, but luckily for Ħamrun, the forward fired into the side-netting.
Nine minutes from the break, Modica made his first change as Vincenzo Polito was replaced by Mouad El Hasni.
Dynamo remained the more dangerous side, and a minute from the break, they initiated another quick move which saw Kabayev see his shot blocked by a defender.
The Ukrainian side thought they doubled their lead just before the half-time whistle when Popov connected to Yarmolenko’s delivery from a free-kick to head past Bonello.
But the VAR officials intervened and ruled that a Dynamo Kyiv player was in an offside position in an attempt to block Marcelina’s run.
On the restart, Dynamo tried to find a second goal and after three minutes Yarmolenko was picked in space, but the former West Ham midfielder fired over.
On 63 minutes, Ħamrun goalkeeper Bonello distinguished himself when he dived full stretch to keep out Vanat’s fierce low drive before Compri cleared to a corner.
The Spartans came close to level matters on 76 minutes when from a Cadenovic free-kick, Saliou Thioune, who had just replaced Koffi, saw his dipping header finish just over the bar.
But two minutes later, Dynamo Kyiv wrapped up the match with a second goal. In a swift raid, skipper Vitaliy Buyalskyi hit a fierce drive that was deflected by Bjelicic past Henry Bonello.
A minute later, the Ukrainians almost added a third when Shaparenko thought he had scored but his effort was cleared off the line by Sven Xerri.
Ten minutes from time, Thioune raced clear on the right, and his low cross was met by Camenzuli, who fired over.
But it was the Ukrainians who added a third goal in stoppage time when Shaparenko’s angled shot was deflected by Bonello into the path of Voloshyn who made no mistake from a few metres out.
