Referee: Moseychuk, Chernivtsi
Linesmen: Andreev, Zhurba (both Donetsk)

Metalist 2:0 Kharkiv Devic 58 (pen.), 61 Horyainov, Gancarczyk, Valyaev, Edmar, Slyusar, Obradovic, Rykun (Barilko 90), Papa Gueye, Devic, Coelho (Trisovic 81), Bordiyan (Zeze 46) Khudzhamov, Berezovchuk, Komarnytskiy, Cheberyachko, Horodov, Pankovets, Ribeiro, Hunchak, Fedetskiy, Milko (Batista 80), Suchkov (Ibrahim 28) Gancarczyk 13, Coelho 27, Valyev 42 Fedetskiy 14, Berezovchuk 36, Cheberyachko 42, Ribeiro 45, Horodov 64 Pankovets 66

Match stats:
(first half data are in brackets)
Shots on goal: 8(5) - 3 (0)
Shots wide: 6(2) - 4(2)
Corners: 4(2) - 3(0)
Fouls: 15(8) - 23(17)
Offsides: 1(1) - 1(0)

The match started with Metalist attacks. On 4 minutes Gancarczyk tried to find Devic in the area with the long pass but Marko couldn’t reach the ball. On 8 minutes Khudzhamov had to enter the play as the seemingly harmless high cross from the free kick after several ricochets found its way to Devic. The Serbian looked certain to score as he rifled the ball from 10 meters just under the bar but Khudzhamov proved his skill and saved the shot. Two minutes later Slyusar was in a position to shoot after a good interplay between Devic and Edmar, but his shot from the edge of the area was too weak.

On 13 minutes Gancarczyk gave the ball away too easily to Milko but Ribeiro couldn’t break clear of the defenders and his shot was way off target. This Citizens’ attack was just a single episode of activity compared to constant Metalist assaults that were often interrupted by fouls (witnessed by 4 yellow cards). On 24 minutes Edmar missed his chance as he failed to beat the keeper from 2 meters. On 34 minutes Bordiyan found Devic with the long pass but the keeper saved his diving header. At the end of the first half the game became calmer as hosts were preparing to solve the problem of Khudzhamov after the break.

Hosts kept attacking in the second half and changed to a formation with 3 forwards. Obradovic could break the deadlock on 50 minutes as he played one-two with Rykun and almost went one-on-one with Khudzhamov who once again denied his effort. Then the referee came into the spotlight as he awarded the penalty for Devic’s falling in the area while there was no contact in the episode. Marko himself converted the spot kick to take hosts ahead – 1:0.

He was the one to double the score minutes earlier as he broke into the box and shot on the volley and Khudzhamov was unable to stop it – 2:0. Five minutes later Citizens’ last hopes were ruined as Pankovets was sent off for the last ditch foul against Zeze who was about to go one-on-one with the keeper. In a minute the referee made a “present” for another side by awarding the penalty for Milko’s fall in the penalty area. Ribeiro missed this chance as Horyainov stopped his shot in the down right corner to keep the clean sheet in the sixth match in a row. Metalist could make the score embarrassing for visitors but Rykun, Edmar and Devic were too careless finishing their combinations. FC Kharkiv had just one possibility to score a consolation goal but Hunchak hit the post from the corner of the six-yard box.

There can be no doubts that Metalist earned their victory and could get it even without the dubious penalty from Moseychuk. However the referee’s actions left a bad taste in the audience’s mouth. Meanwhile the clouds are gathering over FC Kharkiv and the hard rain can be the relegation from the future Premier League.

Volodymyr Bessonov, FC Kharkiv head coach:

- It’s a pity. We still have two matches to battle against relegation. Today I’ve seen the destruction of not just FC Kharkiv but of Ukrainian football. I am sorry that we are watching it with open eyes and doing nothing. It’s not just the first match. What is to comment here? Metalist are a good team, they’d beat us anyway if we allowed them. But when other people meddle with that, I have no comments.

Myron Markevych, Metalist head coach:

- The game was difficult. We expected FC Kharkiv to play defensively and they did. Perhaps we were too nervous because it was a derby match. Dnipro are chasing us so every match is like the last one for us. The pitch quality also was poorer than we wanted but it is still lucky for us. We had to risk and substitute Bordiyan with Zeze because we needed to get through our opponents’ tight defense. It is good that we scored and everything ended well. Obradovic took part in our attacks and could score as the defenders didn’t expect it. I wanted Papa to attack from the deep too but he was too busy with other work.