Kyiv Football Club Defeats Serbian Rivals, Recently Involved in Moscow Fixture

Dynamo Kyiv delivered a commanding performance against Partizan Belgrade in a UEFA Champions League qualifying match, clinching a decisive 6-2 victory. The match, held at Lublin’s Arena Lublin on July 23, marked the first leg of the second qualifying round for the 2024/25 season.

Partizan opened the scoring early, but Dynamo Kyiv quickly shifted momentum before halftime, scoring three goals. They maintained their attacking prowess in the second half, adding three more goals. Partizan managed to score a consolation goal late in the game.

Dynamo’s goals came from Shaparenko, Brazhko, Karavayev, Kabayev, Popov, and Pikhalyonok, while Saldanja netted both goals for Partizan.

Before the match, Dynamo Kyiv took a firm stance against Partizan Belgrade by canceling all joint pre-match activities. This decision was in direct response to Partizan’s recent participation in a friendly tournament in Moscow, where the Serbian club faced no UEFA sanctions. Dynamo Kyiv expressed strong disapproval of this action and chose not to engage in customary exchanges with their opponents.

In an official statement on the club’s website, Dynamo Kyiv condemned Partizan’s involvement in the Moscow tournament, emphasizing their commitment to fair play and UEFA’s regulations. The club underscored that their decision reflected the strained relations amid Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia, highlighting their opposition to any support for Russian activities, especially from European counterparts expected to stand in solidarity with Ukraine.

“Today, Ukraine is facing one of its most challenging periods due to the ongoing conflict with Russia, a country recognized as a state sponsor of terrorism. FC Dynamo Kyiv condemns anyone who supports Russia, including representatives from European countries that stand with Ukraine,” the club’s statement read.

Despite their strong stance, Dynamo Kyiv reiterated their dedication to sporting principles and focused on preparing for the upcoming match under the guidance of head coach Oleksandr Shovkovskyi.

Shovkovskyi, in a press conference before the game, avoided discussing the controversy surrounding Partizan’s actions and instead emphasized the team’s preparation, noting the absence of several players due to international commitments. Dynamo Kyiv will be without key players, including those on the U19 Ukrainian national team and others preparing for the Olympics in Paris.