Kyiv’s Dynamo suffers another defeat to Paphos, losing their chance to advance in the Champions League group stage
In the decisive third qualifying round of the Champions League, Kyiv-based Dynamo suffered a second consecutive defeat to Cypriot club Paphos, effectively ending their hopes of reaching the tournament’s prestigious group stage.
On August 12, the team traveled to Cyprus to play the second leg.
Although the first match held in Poland ended with a narrow 1-0 victory for Paphos, the rematch on their home turf was even more dominant — 2-0 in favor of Paphos.
This result sealed Dynamo’s exit from the Champions League, marking the end of their campaign in this season’s competition.
During the first half, Dynamo attempted to create scoring opportunities but faced a very confident opponent who managed their defense effectively while actively mounting attacks.
Early in the match, specifically on the third minute, a costly mistake by goalkeeper Neshchereta allowed Tanković to intercept the ball and pass along the empty net, enabling Oriš to score with ease.
The second half’s opening saw Correia, after a cross from Oriš, strike in a falling position, effectively extinguishing Dynamo’s hopes for a comeback.
Throughout the remaining match time, Paphos maintained strong control of the game, preventing Dynamo from creating dangerous chances.
Multiple substitutions by coach Shovkovskyi failed to change the course of the game, and Dynamo’s European journey came to an abrupt end.
It is worth noting that Paphos’s victory secured their place in the Champions League playoff round, where they will face the winner of the Malta-based Hamrun Spartans versus Israeli giants Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Considering that Dynamo already defeated Maccabi twice in previous qualifiers (3-0, 3-0), their chances of advancing to the group stage now appear slim.
The team will need to focus on the Ukrainian Premier League, where they recently secured a resounding victory in the second round of the new season, to salvage their reputation and maintain a prominent position among Ukraine’s top European representatives.