Zorya - Naftovyk-Ukrnafta 1:0. Zorya stays in the Higher League

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Zorya 1:0 Naftovyk-Ukrnafta Tsimakuridze 37 (pen.) Tlumak, Antonov, Nwoha, Havryushov, Vorobey, Skoba, Shevchuk, Khramtsov, Korotetskiy, Tsimakuridze (Polovkov 86), Tselykh (Petkovic 70) Kusliy, Kucys (Bakovic 64), Kikot (Balabanov 46), Snytko (Kretov 40), Serdyuk, Karakevych, Karpenko, Kotenko, Ivanov, Nefedov, Monakhov Petkovic 73 Snytko 23

The beginning of the match was boring as both teams lacked skill and were very cautious. Visitors were more active at first, then Zorya overtook the initiative and tried to attack.

The most dangerous episode of the game happened on 20 minutes but unfortunately it didn’t result in a goal. After a quick attack Antonov failed to make a powerful shot on goal and the ball remained in the penalty area. Vorobey ran into the box and blasted it into the crossbar. The ball bounced off the ground and went back into play. Zorya were encouraged by this episode and began to attack more. This spell of activity resulted in another quick attack during which Tsimakuridze was tripped at the edge of the penalty area. The referee awarded the spot kick and Tsimakuridze himself converted it with a shot to the centre.

After taking the lead Zorya sat back for a while and allowed Naftovyk to attack until the end of the first half. However visitors were unable to profit from this situation and couldn’t make even one shot on goal.

Although visitors were trailing behind, they couldn’t exert the expected pressure on Zorya goal in the second half. Until 60 minutes the game was even and after that hosts had obvious advantage in all aspects of the game. Naftovyk players lacked physical form and were slower than their opponents. Zorya had several opportunities to score but sometimes Naftovyk defenders saved the situation and in other episodes the forwards couldn’t finish the hosts’ attacks. Naftovyk had one good chance to equalize when the forward was left unmarked with the ball in 10 meters from Zorya goal but he failed to make the shot on first attempt and then the defenders prevented him from making the second shot. The final assault of the visitors was also fruitless as they didn’t manage to create even a single dangerous episode near Zorya goal.

Valeriy Horodov, Naftovyk-Ukrnafta head coach:

- Six points were at stake today and we understood it perfectly. Hosts had advantage throughout the match. They solved they task and I congratulate them with it. We still have our last chance and we’ll try to use it. I also want to say that there was no penalty. For the fourth match in a row we have refereeing mistakes that affect match result. We had many players injured in recent five games like Yesyp, Bidnenko, and Nefedov. It is difficult to attract quality players for a team like ours. We are not happy with our forwards – they don’t score, and they are not aggressive.

Anatoliy Volobuev, Zorya head coach:

- I thank the players and our fans who supported the team in difficult times. We had to change our lineup and the players lived up to our confidence. I am happy with our loaned players and those who lacked match practice – Tsimakuridze, Shevchuk, Skoba, Tlumak. Today they left no chances to Naftovyk. We have already secured our stay in the higher league so we can try young players from reserves in the two remaining games such as Kostyuk and Sikorskiy. Tselykh lacks match practice and I expect more of him. He did what he could today and earned “four minus” or “three plus” on a five points scale. He had good chances that such forward should convert into goals. But he tries to improve and I think we need such forward.

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