"Zorya" - "Kryvbas" 1:3

In the 2nd round of the new UPL season, Kryvbas played away against Zorya. As for the starting lineup, Patrick van Leeuwen made two changes compared to the match against Karpaty: Borges replaced Bekavac on the left in defense, and Mpanza replaced Jones in the center of defense.

First half

The match started very actively. Already in the 4th minute, Kryvbas scored a goal, but the goal was disallowed due to Satchwell's offside. Soon, Kryvbas created another great opportunity. Herbert shot on goal with his first touch, but after his shot, the hosts were saved by a cross...

Zorya responded with their own attacks. Jelavic failed to close Slesar's cross, and later Kushnirenko threatened the red-and-whites' goal twice: first his shot was blocked, and after a free kick he headed it high.

In the 20th minute, the hosts had perhaps the best chance to open the scoring. Nesterenko brought Budkivskyi into a striking position with a magnificent pass, but the Zorya striker missed the empty net. Kryvbas continued to look for their chances. Giovany shot into the near corner - Rybak managed to save the shot. In the 24th minute, Kemkin reliably fixed the ball after Nesterenko's attempt from close range.

In the 30th minute, Zorya quite unexpectedly opened the scoring. Juninho on the left flank scratched the ball and passed it to Jelavich. After a cross to the penalty area, Borges tried to clear the ball, but hit Mpanza, from whom the ball ricocheted into his own net - 1:0.

After the missed goal, Kryvbas became more active. Seck perfectly picked up the leather ball, shook the opponent and powerfully shot into the near corner, but Rybak managed to repel the shot. At the end of the half, Zorya could have doubled its lead. Slesar had a great chance, but from a deadly position he shot over the goal.

Second half

After the break, Kryvbas increased their activity and completely changed the course of the match. However, the second half began with serious attacks by Zorya. In the 49th minute, Kemkin made a wonderful save after a sneaky shot by Jelavic, and a minute later he saved the Kryvyi Rih team again after a dangerous shot by Kushnirenko.

In the 56th minute, the guests equalized. Nesterenko lost the fight to Shevchenko, after which the Zorya defense left Seck without proper protection. Assane received a pass and with a precise shot into the bottom corner sent the ball into the net - 1:1. Kryvyi Rih continued to press. Williwald had a chance to put the team ahead, breaking into the goal area from deep, but failed to deliver an accentuated shot. Later, Sek shot from an acute angle, but his attempt was blocked.

But within a few minutes, the hosts were unable to keep up with Kryvbas' attack. After Zorya made a mistake when going from defense to attack, Herbert gained space and powerfully shot straight into the far nine - 1:2. The goal was beautiful! In the 63rd minute, Kryvbas was very close to a third goal. Shevchenko had a great chance, but Rybak saved Zorya with an incredible jump, pulling the ball out of the corner of the goal.

A few minutes later, Kryvbas increased its lead to two goals. Herbert passed to Nawi, - Aaron accurately shot into the far corner - 1:3. Congratulations on the debut goal for our team! Luhansk tried to get back into the game. Budkivskyi had a great chance to reduce the gap, but Kemkin again demonstrated a reliable game, parrying the shot from close range. Soon, Glushchenko shot from a killer position, but this time Navi was in the way of the ball.

In the final, the teams exchanged attacks, but the spectators did not see any more goals scored. Kryvbas scored three times after the break and won a strong victory over Zorya - 3:1. After the defeat in the first round, Kryvbas get their first three points in the new championship. Congratulations to all fans on this victory!

August 9, 2026, Sunday. Ukrainian Championship 2026/2027. UPL. 2nd round. Kyiv. Dynamo Stadium named after Valery Lobanovskyi. 13:00. +24 degrees.

Zorya (Luhansk) - Kryvbas (Kryvyi Rih) - 1:3 (1:0)

Referee: Denis Shurman (Kyiv region).

Assistant referees: Nazariy Tsmokanych (Lviv), Dmytro Podvalny (Kyiv region).

Fourth referee: Artem Mykhailiuk (Kyiv).

Referee observer: Oleksandr Voytyuk (Zaporizhia).

UAF delegate: Andriy Taran (Kyiv region).

VAR referee: Dmytro Panchyshyn (Kharkiv).

VAR assistant: Oleksandr Berkut (Sumy).

VAR observer: Victor Derdo (Chornomorsk).

Goals: Jimmy Mpanzu, own goal, 30 (1:0). Assane Seck (Volodymyr Mulyk), 56 (1:1). Giovany Herbert (Roy Nawi), 61 (1:2). Roy Nawi (Giovany Herbert), 65 (1:3).

Zorya (Luhansk): 25. Vladislav Rybak, 10. Junior Reis (39. Artem Macheliuk, 68), 44. Igor Perduta, 55. Anderson Jordan, 3. Vasyl Kravets, 77. Bohdan Kushnirenko (14. Anton Hlushchenko, 68), 6. Deyan Popara (11. Igor Horbach, 83), 30. Ivan Nesterenko, 27. Domagoy Jelavic (17. Fedir Zadorozhny, 68), 9. Artem Slesar, 28. Pylyp Budkivskyi.

Substitutes: 1. Oleksandr Saputin, 23. Ilya Karavashchenko, 5. Andriy Yanich, 21. Yakov Bashych, 8. Kyrylo Dryshlyuk, 80. Vladlen Yurchenko, 70. Stanislav Yaroshenko, 99. Artem Serdyuk.

Head coach: Viktor Skrypnyk.

Kryvbas (Kryvyi Rih): 12. Oleksandr Kemkin, 2. Jan Jurcec, 4. Volodymyr Vilivald, 3. Jimmy Mpanzu (15. Joseph Jones, 90+1), 16. Thiago Borges, 17. Roy Nawi, 10. Giovany Herbert (6. Denys Pidhurskyi, 76), 8. Yaroslav Shevchenko, 14. Assane Seck (25. Tymur Butenko, 83), 9. Shakeone Satchwell (24. Volodymyr Mulyk, 46), 21. Oleksandr Kamenskyi.

Substitutes: 23. Danylo Sychov, 1. Bohdan Khoma, 19. Yevhen Maiakov, 5. Ante Bekavac, 26. Yehor Korobka.

Head coach: Patrick van Leeuwen.

Yellow cards: Jimmy Mpanzu, 44. Roy Nawi, 60.

 Press service of FC "Kryvbas" Kryvyi Rih