Roman Debelko: I’m grateful to the guys. They did everything we asked

Post-match comments following the Round 9 fixture of the 2026/2027 UPL-2 Youth Championship between Kryvbas U-21 and LNZ U-21 (1:0).

Roman Debelko, Coach of FC Kryvbas U-21:

"It was a very difficult match, but we had prepared thoroughly and knew it wouldn't be easy. We had a clear plan and strategy for the game. I am sincerely grateful to the lads - they executed everything we had agreed upon perfectly. We saw a real team on the pitch: they fought for one another, showed resilience, and secured the victory. Yes, our finishing could have been better, but we consciously ceded the initiative to our opponents, waiting for opportunities to launch quick counterattacks.

We had several excellent chances in the first half, and another sharp opportunity after the break. The main thing is that we won - that is what matters most. Today, total commitment, strict tactical discipline, and an unwavering belief in victory took center stage. We demanded that the boys keep a clean sheet at the back, confident that we would eventually find our moment up front and score. And that is exactly what happened."

Dmytro Hodia, Midfielder for FC Kryvbas U-21:

"The opposition was taking a throw-in near their own goal and made a mistake by playing the ball backward. Matviy Bodnar intercepted the pass at the right moment and rolled the ball into my path, setting me up one-on-one with the goalkeeper." All that remained was to convert the chance with a cool head. I believe scoring the opening goal was extremely important. It gave the whole team confidence and the right emotional boost, allowing us to work calmly toward the final result.

We played with a mid-block, but we frequently launched dangerous counter-attacks - situations where we could easily have doubled our lead. Of course, I’m happy to score and contribute to the squad, but the most important thing is the team’s collective victory. Every win matters, so we’ll keep working hard to ensure we keep winning.

Danylo Sychov, FC Kryvbas U-21 Goalkeeper:

- The penalty? Well, I know Yehor Tverdokhlib quite well. Right before the kick, I said something to him and used some gestures - and it worked. I believe a goalkeeper’s primary job is to keep a clean sheet, which gives the team confidence. I think the defensive line and I performed reliably; we communicated excellently on the pitch, constantly covering for and helping one another.

This success can truly be called a victory of discipline: every player tracked back, and we defended compactly and cohesively as a unit - full credit to the guys for that. As for me, I plan to work hard every day to keep improving and eventually make my debut for the first team.

Media of FC "Kryvbas" Kryvyi Rih