"Kryvbas" - "Zorya" 3:1

In the 18th round of the UPL, Kryvbas hosted Zorya in Kovalivka, Kyiv region. In the first round match, we were stronger 3:2 in a very interesting confrontation. Today's match was no exception.

First half

As for the starting lineup, we should note the appearance of Kamenskyi in the center of midfield from the first minutes instead of the disqualified Shevchenko. The debut of the match was better for Luhansk, who managed to score a quick goal. Slesar shot from the right - Andusic accurately hit the near corner without obstacles - 0:1.

But Kryvbas responded quite quickly with its own effective shot. Bar Lin received the ball in the penalty area and left no chances for Saputin - 1:1. After that, the teams exchanged chances. Kemkin got the ball from under the crossbar after a sharp shot by the same Andusic, and immediately Kamensky shot from an advantageous position, but hit the goalkeeper.

The red-and-whites took the lead, and soon took the lead for the first time in the match. Dibango brilliantly beat Mendoza and shot into the goal, from where he accurately beat Zaderaka with a touch – 2:1! In the added time before the first half, we managed to score again.

Mendoza unexpectedly for Saputin shot into the near corner from outside the penalty area – 3:1. Let's note several great saves by Kemkin before the break, who really saved Kryvbas from certain goals after a shot from several meters, and then after a cunning throw under the crossbar.

Second half

Immediately after the break, the opponent went forward with great strength with the hope of winning back. And even scored a goal, but the referee recorded a fair offside. Kemkin had enough work. In the 62nd and 70th minutes, the crossbar twice saved Kryvbas from problems after a pass from Andusic and a shot by Slesar.

Later, Oleksandr saved after a difficult shot by the same Andusic from outside the penalty area. The red-whites responded with a moment from Mendoza, who performed a pass-shot from the penalty area on the left, but almost missed the far corner. The last 10 minutes passed in mutual attacks, but the score did not change anymore. A very unfortunate episode occurred in the 85th minute, when Mendoza injured his hand in a collision with an opponent. We keep our fingers crossed for Gleiker and wish him only good health.

Herbert came on as a substitute for Mendoza, and this is the debut for the Panamanian newcomer from Kryvyi Rih. We win in a strong-willed style – 3:1. Thank you for the support of the fans who came to Kovalivka and passionately drove the team forward for all 90 minutes. 

March 1, 2026, Sunday. Ukrainian Championship 2025\2026. VBET League. Round 18. S. Kovalivka, Kyiv region. “Kolos” Stadium. 13:00. 146 spectators. +8 degrees.

“Kryvbas” (Kryvyi Rih) - “Zorya” (Luhansk) - 3:1 (3:1)

Referee: Viktor Kopievskyi (Kropyvnytskyi).

Assistant referees: Semen Shlonchak (Cherkassy), Viktor Nyzhnyk (Vinnytsia).

Fourth referee: Maksym Kozyryatskyi (Zaporizhzhia).

Referee observer: Serhiy Voznyak (Mykolaiv).

UAF delegate: Yaroslav Derevyanko (Dnipro).

VAR referee: Igor Paskhal (Kherson).

VAR assistant: Yevhen Tsybulko (Cherkasy region).

VAR observer: Anatoliy Abdula (Kharkiv).

Goals: Nemanja Andusic, 2 (0:1). Bar Lin (Carlos Paraco), 9 (1:1). Maksym Zaderaka (Yvan Dibango), 30 (2:1). Gleiker Mendoza (Yvan Dibango), 45+1 (3:1).

Kryvbas (Kryvyi Rih): 12. Oleksandr Kemkin - 2. Jan Jurcec, 4. Volodymyr Vilivald, 15. Joseph Jones, 55. Yvan Dibango - 27. Andrusw Araujo, 94. Maksym Zaderaka (k), 21. Oleksandr Kamenskyi (20. Matvii Bodnar, 84), 18. Bar Lin (28. Jhoel Maya, 70), 7. Gleiker Mendoza (10. Giovany Herbert, 87), 83 - 9. Carlos Paraco (3. Carlos Rojas, 84).

Substitutes: 59. Danylo Sychov, 46. Artem Dudarenko, 24. Volodymyr Mulyk, 19. Yevhen Maiakov, 26. Yehor Korobka.

Head coach: Patrick van Leeuwen.

Zorya (Luhansk): 1. Oleksandr Saputin, 44. Igor Perduta, 55. Anderson Jordan, 5. Andriy Yanich, 10. Junior Reis (19. Roman Salenko, 81), 77. Bohdan Kushnirenko (8. Kyrylo Dryshlyuk, 74), 7. Nemanja Andushych, 6. Deyan Popara, 47. Roman Vantukh, 9. Artem Slesar (11. Igor Horbach, 81), 28. Pylyp Budkivskyi.

Substitutes: 12. Mykyta Turbaevskyi, 31. Valeriy Kosivskyi, 23. Navin Malysh, 4. Gabriel Eskinya, 88. Sallieu Bach, 17. Fedor Zadorozhny, 70. Verley.

Head coach: Viktor Skrypnyk.

Yellow cards: Deyan Popara, 55. Bohdan Kushnirenko, 58.

 Press service of FC "Kryvbas" Kryvyi Rih