Dnipro-1, which hosted AEK in Slovakia, one of the Ukrainian clubs that started its European struggle this season, started its matches later. Unlike Vorskla and Zorya, the Dnipro team cannot finish the European season in the qualifiers – if the Cyprus team fails, the Conference League group will still be waiting for Kucher’s wards. But of course you want more.

Compared with last season, the composition of the Dnieper has changed dramatically, which is not surprising – at such times. Valef, Tanchik, Busanello, Purita, Sarapiy and Blanco made their debut for the team. The coach is also new and quite unexpected – on the UEFA website, goalkeeping coach Valery Gorodov is listed as the main person. All due to the lack of a PRO license from Alexander Kucher.

The inconsistency of the composition was striking. Blanco, right from the start, tried to base her opponents on individual skills, but interaction with partners was not ideal. Sarapiy also constantly gave publications to nowhere – there, according to his plans, they were supposed to be his own, but they were not.

The beginning rise of “Dnepr-1” was replaced by the cessation of the initiative by the Cypriots. And after a few blocks, they finally reached their goal – Tanchik let Englez pass from the right, then passed to Altman, who unsuccessfully took the ball, but no one knocked him out, and with a second touch, the namesake of our famous player scored the goal of coach Valef.

𝐆𝐎𝐀𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐋🙌 #SCDnipro 0 – 1 #AEKlarnaka #SCDAEK pic.twitter.com/g65ziAd3OP

— AEK Larnaca (@AEKLARNACA) 18 August 2022

In Dnipro-1, Busanello was noticed – after a few minutes he managed to shoot into the opponent’s hands from the left, cut him in the middle of the field and, after a concussion, made up for his own mistake by not letting the opponent do it. Go on a date with the goalkeeper.

In the first minutes, it seemed like there was nothing special in AEK. However, this impression quickly dissipated. Fast runs along the wings, constant pressure again paid off. And again, Tanchik took part in the section, letting him pass and knocking the ball in a fight for a corner. But he did not become the main anti-hero of the division – after the serve Valef missed the ball, and the ball from Milicevic hit Svatok in the head and flew into the net – 0:2.

𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐅 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄#SCDnipro1 0️⃣ – 2️⃣ #AEKlarnaka #SCDAEK #UEL pic.twitter.com/uTdazzWFy2

— AEK Larnaca (@AEKLARNACA) 18 August 2022

Thereupon, AEK got defensive and Dnipro-1 started to control the game after getting over the shock. But Dnipros’ only notable moment before the break was when Purita was replaced on the right in Robben-Messi-Yarmolenko style, slightly overtaking the left nine. The guests had more interesting moments, but Farage and company didn’t use them.

There was an impression that this team had potential, the rookie legionnaires looked pretty interesting, but a terrible lack of teamwork prevented them from showing a good game result.

After the break, Gromov took the field instead of Kogut. And the game immediately moved into the penalty area of ​​​​the Cypriots – Gromov struck twice, not very well, but the realities of the blows pleased. Busanello hit from a sharp angle – the goalkeeper parried. And the action ended when Dovbik shot him into the wall from a promising free kick.

But for the guests, this break took a while and then we had a super moment. Opening from the left flank, Dovbik hit his opponent in the face, and Gromov swung the crossbar of Tumbas’ goal with side scissors. It has become much more interesting, AEK frankly began to play for time – after each collision, their players fell on the field and tried to lie there as long as possible.

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Added, extensions SC Dnipro-1 official 🇺🇦 (@scdnipro1)

The venture has completely switched to Dnipros. They squeezed the AEK literally in half, but failed to compress it. True, nothing more interesting can be done than mids and mids, but the contrast in the first half was clear.

True, a rare counterattack from guests can bury our hopes for a positive outcome. From 30 yards Dyurcho had been preparing a blow for a long time, courtesy of the Dnipro defenders, and he hit the right post. Obviously lucky.

And in the last ten minutes, the visiting team got stuck not only in their own half, but also in their own penalty area. They literally fell under the blows, but the Dniprians achieved their goal – after a corner from Pikhalenok Svatok narrowed the gap in the score.

𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 ✊🔰#SCDnipro1 1️⃣-2️⃣ #AEKlarnaka#SCDAEK #UEL pic.twitter.com/Dcn6vFOHYu

— AEK Larnaca (@AEKLARNACA) 18 August 2022

Our team really wanted to draw the match, but luck was not enough. Sarapiy also received a second yellow card in the final seconds and will miss the second leg. True, today Eduard was not impressed, like Tanchik.

If there is a match in Cyprus, as in the second half, then the Europa League group stage from Dnipro-1 will not go anywhere. It is a pity that the Dnipro team continues a long tradition of Ukrainians in European competitions – to create problems for themselves and solve them heroically. We hope it will be possible to solve this, both beginners and old timers are quite good quality.

UEFA Europa League. Qualification. Playoffs. First match.

Dnipro-1 – AEK Larnaca – 1:2

Svatok, 90 – Altman, 16, Svatok, 30 (author)

Sarapiy, 63 – Luis Gustavo, 62, Casas, 90+3

Sarapiy, 90+5 (second warning)

“Dnepr-1”: Max Valef – Busanello, Svatok, Adamyuk, Tanchik – Sarapiy, Kohut (Gromov, 46) – Blanco, Pikhalenok, Purita (Nazarenko, 61) – Dovbik.

AEK Larnaca: Tumbas – Enlezu (Casas, 59), Gonzalez, Milicevic, Rosales – Luis Gustavo (Mamas, 86), Altman, Oher – Gyurcho (Trichkovsky, 86), Lopes Romo (Romo, 58), Farage (Bruno Gamma, 66).

Judge: Tobias Stieler (Obertshausen, Germany).

Stadium: Kosice Football Arena (Kosice, Slovakia).

Shots (on target): 23 (13) – 22 (10)
Corner: 8 – 8
Offsides: 1 – 2.

DNEPR-1 – AEK LARNACA. ONLINE BROADCAST OF THE MATCH

Temperature: 25°C