Dynamo 1 – 0 Metalist: Vukojevic Walks The Walk

When a player installs his side as a definite favorite ahead of a big match, he better back up his words with strong play or he runs the risk of looking like a fool. After his confident pre-match comments, Ognjen Vukojevic did just that, nodding in the lone goal to give Dynamo the edge going into the second leg of their UEFA Cup Round of 16 clash with Metalist Kharkiv. The UPL leaders dominated the action for the majority of the combative encounter, and while the visitors had their chances to get on the scoreboard, Dynamo’s makeshift defense held strong, and the Kiev club will have a clear advantage when the tie resumes next Thursday in Kharkiv.

Dynamo manager Yuri Semin fielded the same eleven that beat Vorskla Poltava 4-1 over the weekend. In the absence of left-sided defenders Andriy Nesmachniy and Badr El Kaddouri, Roman Eremenko took over left back duties and performed admirably in an unfamiliar position. The versatile Russian-born Finn, on a year long loan from Udinese, has featured in just about every spot on the pitch during his young career. Eremenko plays in the center of midfield for his national side, saw time at forward in Italy, and had been used primarily as an attacking midfielder or out on either flank by Dynamo. Semin, like Valeriy Lobanovsky before him, firmly believes professional footballers must be able to adapt to any role required by the team, and in Eremenko he has a player able to do just that. Against Metalist Eremenko had to resist his natural urge to push forward, and instead contributed by helping Dynamo keep its shape at the back while using his speed and confidence on the ball to provide an outlet for his defensive partners.

As expected Dynamo started the match full of attacking intent, while Metalist were clearly not in the mood to give up an early goal and came with their axes sharpened. The early action was frequently interrupted by referee Mike Riley’s whistle, as he called foul after foul on the visitors. Set piece maestro Oleksandr Aliyev was going to have his chances in this match, but his early attempts were far beneath the quality he is capable of. The first clear chance fell to Metalist on the quarter hour. Denys Oliynyk, facing his former club for the first time, got loose on the left flank, turning Betao the wrong way and cutting to the byline. His cross found Serhiy Valyayev lurking in the area, but under pressure from Taras Mykhalyk the Ukraine international put his volley over the bar from eight yards out. Dynamo continued to threaten and Artem Milevskiy earned a free kick in an ideal position on the edge of the area, but Aliyev once again wasted the opportunity by blasting into the wall. On the half hour Metalist went unpunished when they gave the ball away in their own area, with both Aliyev and Milevskiy having possession tantalizingly close to the target but never getting a true sight at goal. The next Dynamo attack ended with Carlos Correa advancing from his right midfield spot to the corner of the area and firing a dangerous shot that had Metalist keeper Oleksandr Goryainov beat but skipped just wide of the far post. Shortly thereafter Milevskiy’s looping reverse ball found strike partner Artem Kravets on the edge of the area, but with defenders scrambling to interfere the young forward pulled his shot off target.

After a stoppage to treat a knock to a Metalist player Aliyev and Riley shared a laugh prior to the drop ball. I can’t help but think that the Dynamo playmaker reminded the English referee of the botched restart that doomed Dynamo in their Champions League match at Arsenal. As the half drew to a close Metalist continued to pile up fouls, and Riley finally ran out of patience with the visitors, Oliynyk and Walter Acevedo going into his book in quick succession. The latter infraction presented Aliyev with an opportunity from some 30 yards out, and Sasha finally produced a quality strike, with only the fingertips of Goryainov preventing the ball from smashing into the top corner. Aliyev was also finding the range on his dead ball delivery, with the ensuing corner kick lofted onto the head of Goran Sablic at the far post. But the veteran defender’s powerful effort sailed over the bar.

Myron Markevych must have been aware his team’s resistance was on the verge of breaking, as he replaced Acevedo and his yellow card with the defensive presence of Andriy Berezovchuk. The visitors once again had a golden chance to turn the match on its head as Jaja Coelho got the better of Eremenko for the one and only time. The Brazilian forward broke loose on the right flank, played a one-two with Oliynyk and raced in on Stanyslav Bohush. As Jaja’s low strike, aimed for the far corner, left his foot, my web feed froze, leaving me holding my breath in terror. But a few agonizing seconds later I was able to let out a sigh of relief as the bar rolled harmlessly wide of the post. Dynamo responded with more sustained pressure, and Kravets had several chances to pad his European account. But twice he was unable to get a shot away from promising positions, and when Aliyev’s service presented him with an open header he sliced the ball just off target.

With the stadium roaring Dynamo’s attacks were building to a climax, and the inevitable breakthrough finally arrived. Yet another corner kick was sent into the area by Aliyev, and with Goryainov stranded in no man’s land Milevskiy got his head on the ball, which would have gone wide if not for the decisive intervention by the alert Vukojevic. The midfielder had just a split second to react to the deflection by his teammate but he made solid contact with his forehead and the Metalist defenders could only watch as the ball nestled in the back of the net. Vukojevic celebrated his goal in a manner befitting his “destroyer” image – by earning a yellow card minutes later that will rule him out of the return leg. Asked afterward if he regretted picking up the booking and the resulting suspension, Oggi replied in his typically confident manner, “It’s OK, I will play in the quartefinal.” Passing nearby, his manager smiled and tossed the word “superstar” in the direction of his midfielder. Semin’s comment was made in jest, but there is no doubt in my mind that the addition of Vukojevic is the biggest reason behind Dynamo’s assent this season. When Ayila Yussuf was lost to injury in September the young Croat was left as the team’s lone true holding midfielder, and he has played every minute of every meaningful match since then. Dinamo Zagreb fans called him their Gattuso, but in Kiev he has grown to be our Michael Essien, a tireless beast who roams throughout the pitch striking fear into the hearts of his enemies.

To Metalist’s credit, they did not go into damage limitation mode after conceding. Right on the hour Marko Devic came on for Oliynyk, and the visitors began to control possession for the first time in the match. But while Metalist saw more of the ball, it was Dynamo who continued to create the chances. With the visitors pushing forward, Dynamo attackers were left with more space to operate. His set piece attempts improving with every new opportunity, Aliyev brazenly bent the ball under the crossbar directly from a corner kick, and Goryainov had to reach back to tip it to safety. Minutes later Aliyev once again tested the Metalist keeper with a vicious free kick from 40 yards out, but Goryainov managed to pull the ball out of the top corner.

The most controversial moment in the match came next. While in the area Jaja pushed the ball between Betao and Sablic, and in the ensuing attempt to split the defenders the Metalist forward went to ground. In my eyes it should have been a no call, and I have certainly seen penalties given for less, but the referee raced over to show Coelho a yellow card for simulation. Jaja was probably hard done by the decision, but the classy Brazilian calmly pleaded his case to Riley while being given his medicine, and did not drag out the process like many others would have. When the final whistle blew Coelho was the first player to shake Riley’s hand.

Riley’s next booking was much more straight forward, as beaten Seweryn Gancarczyk had to dive head first after Correa, grabbing the Dynamo midfielder by the shorts and holding on for dear life. It was the sixth caution shown to the visitors. With Dynamo’s flank play waning, Semin made his first substitution five minutes from time, replacing Kravets with Oleh Husyev. The veteran winger made good use of his brief time on the pitch, creating a wonderful scoring chance when he cut into the area with defenders on his back before laying the ball on for Milevskiy. But Artem could not get any power on his shot, and Dynamo had to settle for the minimal victory. The numbers tell the story of this match, as the sides combined for a whopping 58 fouls, 35 of them by the visitors. Dynamo got off 21 shots, 6 on target, while Metalist managed just 5 attempts, none of them requiring action from Bohush. Perhaps most telling was the 13 to 1 edge in corner kicks for the hosts, and it is fitting that their goal came from one of those set piece opportunities. The good news for Dynamo is they earned the win without giving up an away goal. But Semin and his players know their job is far from finished, as Metalist are sure to put up a fight for their European lives next Thursday in Kharkiv.

Category: UEFA Cup 2008/2009

Tags: Andriy Berezovchuk, Andriy Nesmachniy, Arsenal, Artem Kravets, Artem Milevskiy, Ayila Yussuf, Badr El Kaddouri, Betao, Carlos Correa, Champions League, Denys Oliynyk, Dinamo Zagreb, Gennaro Gattuso, Goran Sablic, Jaja Coelho, Marko Devic, Metalist Kharkiv, Michael Essien, Mike Riley, Myron Markevych, Ognjen Vukojevic, Oleh Husyev, Oleksandr Aliyev, Oleksandr Goryainov, Roman Eremenko, Serhiy Valyayev, Seweryn Gancarczyk, Stanyslav Bohush, Taras Mykhalyk, Udinese, UEFA Cup, UEFA Cup 2008/2009, Ukraine, Ukrainian Premier League, Valeriy Lobanovsky, Vorskla Poltava, Walter Acevedo, Yuri Semin

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