Serhiy Nahorniak: For us, a draw against Kryvbas is a very positive result

Serhiy Nahorniak, head coach of Epiсentr Kamianets-Podilskyi, commented on the UPL Matchday 12 home game against Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih (which ended in a 1:1 draw) during a broadcast on UPL TV.

- It was a draw, but in matches like this, there is always something to praise and something to criticize. For you, is this game more of a reason to praise the team, or the opposite?

- Given the downward spiral we’ve been in lately, this is a very positive result for us. The only bitter aftertaste is that we once again "gifted" a goal to the opponent out of nowhere - there was no sign it was coming. We essentially handed them the ball. But the lads did well: after conceding, they equalized and could have scored even more. It’s just a shame we didn't convert a two-on-one breakaway in the final minutes.

It was clear how much both sides wanted to win. I am sincerely grateful to the team. I hope we’ve hit rock bottom and can now only move upward. I have no complaints about the lads: we created enough chances to win, adjusted well after conceding, and that paid off. Overall, I am satisfied with the team's performance.

- Let me add a positive note: it turns out that this is the first time in the current championship that Epiсentr hasn't lost a match in which they conceded the opening goal.

- If it’s the first time, then that is definitely a clear positive.

- The first half was very cautious from both sides, while toward the end of the second, the teams were playing essentially without a midfield. Did you deliberately let Kryvbas come forward so you could launch counterattacks, or did the flow of the match simply dictate that?

- That’s how the game unfolded at times. The opponent played with five defenders, dropping back into their own half and relying on counterattacks - something we had prepared for. At times, we still lack a bit of courage on the pitch. We need to play more boldly from the start - the way we did only after conceding. But that caution still creeps in; it’s a matter of experience. Matches against this team are always wild. I recall last year: one game ended 5:4, and in another, we somehow managed to lose 1:2 despite being the better side. Today, it was 1:1. I’m convinced this point will prove beneficial for us.

- After conceding, you switched to a formation with two strikers, and Vadym Sydun equalized - his first goal in over two months. You brought him back into the starting lineup - was that a coach’s intuition at work? How significant is this goal for him personally?

- For a forward, a goal is everything. Vadym understood this perfectly, even though he nominally started on the flank today. To be honest, I didn’t pressure him unnecessarily. He’s a young guy, and he needs to work through this phase - where things aren't quite clicking - on his own.

Vadym put in the work and persistently pursued this goal. Of course, it would have been ideal if, during that counterattack in the final seconds, he had passed the ball to the open Kovalets. But I’m not going to reproach him. He has been through a difficult period; he is a very diligent player, and today’s match is definitely a plus for him.

Media of FC "Kryvbas" Kryvyi Rih