Dynamo Kyiv Succumbs to Cypriot Pafos in Crucial Third Qualifying Round Match in Lublin
On Tuesday, August 5th, Kyiv’s Dynamo expressed their determination to advance to the main stages of the Champions League by engaging in a tense and fiercely competitive third-round qualifier against the Cypriot club Pafos.
The match was held in Lublin, Poland, creating a charged atmosphere filled with anticipation and tension.
Despite their efforts, Dynamo Kyiv suffered a narrow 0:1 defeat.
The opening half saw an evenly matched contest, with several dangerous moments created by the Ukrainian team.
Early in the second half, Dynamo almost capitalized on their opportunities: Naumovych’s shot hit the crossbar, and Vanat’s header from close range sailed just over the bar.
Midway through the second half, a clear penalty award was overturned after the VAR review—Vanat was fouled in the box, but the referee reversed his initial decision.
The decisive moment came in the 84th minute, when Anderson received a pass, skillfully bypassed Dublinchak, and scored the winning goal, sealing the victory for Pafos.
Despite the setback, Dynamo Kyiv has a chance to overturn the result in the second-leg match scheduled for August 12 on Cyprus.
The winner of this encounter will qualify for the Champions League playoff round, where they will face the victor of the tie between Lech Poznań (Poland) and Red Star Belgrade (Serbia).
Prior reports also indicated potential opponents for Shakhtar Donetsk and Polissya in European competitions, including news about a key Shakhtar player missing the initial match against Greek giants Panathinaikos.