DYNAMO KYIV 3
Vanat 29; Brazhko 35; Mykhavko 82
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 0
(D. Kyiv win 6-0 on aggregate)
DYNAMO KYIV
R. Neshcheret, O. Karavayev (73 O. Tymchyk), K. Bilovar, T. Mykhavko, K. Vivcharenko, M. Shaparenko, V. Brazhko, O. Pikhalonok (73 O. Yatsyk), V. Kabaiev (46 V. Supryaha), V. Vanat (46 M. Ponomarenko), N. Voloshyn (80 M. Braharu).
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS
H. Bonello, R. Camenzuli (46 N. Micallef), V. Polito, O. Bjelicic, R. Compri, R. Mihana (46 E. Marcelina), M. Garcia (46 Eder), J. Cadjenovic, J. Mbong (87 S. Thioune), D. Simkus, N. Koffi (73 Djile).
Referee Laase Graagard (Denmark).
Yellow cards Vivcharenko, Tymchyk, Polito.
Dynamo Kyiv strolled to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League with a routine 2-0 win over Ħamrun Spartans in the return leg at the Arena Lublin, in Poland.
It was a commanding performance from the Ukrainian champions who were completely in control right from the outset and never gave any chance to the Spartans to settle into the match.
Kyiv’s speed of play left the Spartans’ players gasping for breath as they were pegged into their own and trying to limit the damage.
The Spartans’ resistance was finally broken on 29 minutes when a defensive blunder handed Vanat the opening goal on a plate.
The Ukrainians then sealed the win on the stroke of half-time with another slick attacking play finished off by Brazhko to seal a 5-0 aggregate win and await the winner of the Champions League tie between Pafos FC and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Ħamrun, on their part, drop into the Europa League and will face the loser of the tie between the same Pafos FC and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
As expected, Dynamo Kyiv dominated the early minutes of the match, launching wave after wave of attacks, but failed to create any danger to Henry Bonello, the Ħamrun Spartans goalkeeper.
The Ukrainians stepped up the pressure, and on nine minutes, Vanat was played through on goal but was denied by Bonello. Kabaiev was first to the rebound but was denied by Ognjen Bjelicic, with the ball falling to Shaparenko was also denied by a Ħamrun defender.
From the ensuing corner, taken by Shaparenko, was turned past Bonello, but the referee annulled the ‘goal’ as the Ukrainian player touched the ball with his arm before depositing into the net.
From then on, the Spartans seemed to be able to control their opponents’ pressure.
But that all changed on 29 minutes when the Reds gave Dynamo the lead on a plate.
Bonello passed the ball to Polito, who opted to pass the ball back to his goalkeeper without knowing that Kyiv forward Vanat was closing him down, and the speedy forward rounded Bonello and fired the ball into the net.
Ten minutes from the break, Kyiv doubled their lead with another swift move that saw Shaparenko burst inside the area and square the ball to Brazhko, who fired home.
Seconds later, Bonello avoided conceding a third goal when he somehow kept out Karavayev’s shot.
On the restart, Modica made three changes as Nikolai Micallef replaced the injured Ryan Camenzuli, while Emerson Marcelina and Eder replaced Rehan Mihana and Matias Garcia.
After the break, Dynamo Kyiv reduced their intensity of play but continued to dominate possession.
On the stroke of the hour mark, Bonello did well to dive to his left to block Vivcharenko’s shot.
Ħamrun had their first shot on target on the hour mark when Vincenzo Polito connected to Compri’s cross but headed into the hands of goalkeeper Nescheret.
It was Dynamo who wrapped up the match nine minutes from time as the Spartans failed to clear a corner and Taras Mykhavko rammed home the third goal.
