Ukrainian Cup. Illichivets - Chornomorets 2:1. Everything will be decided in Odesa

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Mariupol. Illichivets Stadium.
Attendance: 9 000 (according to PFL information)

Referee: Shandor, Lviv
Linesmen: Valenko A., Valenko V. (both Lviv)

Illichivets 2:1 Chornomorets Lima 43, Krasnopyorov 48 Vazquez 45 Shukhovtsev, Solyanik, Krasnopyorov, Yesin, Kondratyuk, Shevelyukhin, Kamenyuka, Ivashko, Buryak (Yavorskiy 20), Lima (Skoba 90), Oberemko Rudenko, Nizhegorodov, Gimenez, Biletskiy, Korytko, Zotov, Humenyuk (Shyschenko 58), Yatsenko, De La Haza (Valeev 85), Vazquez, Buhaev (Melyo 54) Yellow card: Vazquez 75

For almost a month Illichivets players had no match practice. Their last game was on November 12. This pause affected their physical condition, however their devotion and desire to win helped them to beat Chornomorets.

Hosts were the first to shoot on goal after six minutes of the game but Rudenko confidently saved Kamenyuka's shot. Then he parried Oberemko's header after the free kick. In the middle of the first half Mariupol had to make the substitution replacing injured Buryak with Yavorskiy. Illichivets attacked almost all the time but their shots often went wide. On 39 minutes hosts scored their first goal but the linesman signaled that Lima was offside. However the Brazilian forward didn't miss his chance three minutes later as he went one-on-one with Rudenko after the mistake of Chornomorets defenders and broke the deadlock.

Chornomorets managed to equalize before the break. Two minutes into stoppage time Vazquez headed in Korytko's cross and Shukhovtsev couldn't save it. It was perhaps the only threat that the visitors managed to create in the first half.

The first Illichivets' attack in the second half brought them a winner. On 47 minutes the ball fell to Krasnopyorov after the free kick and he shot into the top corner of Rudenko's goal. Both teams had chances to alter the scoreline. Oberemko missed the opportunity to secure Illichivets' lead as he shot twice from direct free kicks, first time hitting the wall and putting the second ball behind. Kamenyuka, Solyanik, Ivashko all shot on goal but their shots were either saved by Rudenko or went wide. Vazquez, Korytko and Melyo threatened Shukhovtsev's goal but were unable to score.

Illichivets Mariupol put up a good display and won deservedly. However everything will be decided in the second leg in Odesa on December 15.

Vitaliy Shevchenko, FC Chornomorets head coach:

— It was a typical autumn game when everybody want to go on vacation. Illichivets had more desire and devotion than us. We might have more chances but didn't use them so the result is logical. We will try to improve in the second leg and try to qualify for the semifinals.

If we don't change our psychology, we will lose the second game too. Devotion determines much in cup games. Skill also matters but not so significantly. We wanted to win without much efforts and lost because of that.

Semen Altman, FC Illichivets head coach:

— We had difficulties because we played our last match on November 12 and I had to let my players go on vacation and then gather them again and prepare for the games against Chornomorets. This is the first such case in my career. The game showed that Chornomorets were prepared better than us. Everything will be decided in Odesa and the second leg will be even more difficult. This game proved that we could play well against a higher league side. But we don't have to be too hopeful.

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