Dynamo Kyiv vs PAOK: Player ratings from the first leg

There were plenty of warnings before the match in Lublin: Greek side PAOK is a different beast compared to Universitatea Cluj. Unfortunately, most fears proved justified. The only bright spot early on was Volodymyr Brazhko’s quick opener, which should have given Dynamo confidence. But the defense played even worse than in the previous round, and against a more formidable opponent that meant three conceded goals. Hope for the second leg remains only because of the final quarter, when Dynamo came close to a miraculous comeback but risked conceding a fourth. Football.ua rates Dynamo players on a 10-point scale. Ruslan Neshcheret – 5.0. Conceded three, but also made four saves. Without them the score could have been even worse. Can’t blame the keeper given the defensive display. Tomasz Kędziora, Vladyslav Dubinchak – 5.0. Both full-backs were tormented by Giannis Konstantelias. The Greek was everywhere – wide and central. When Tyson joined in, it became unbearable. Christian Bilovar (5.0) – Taras Mykhavko (5.5) – 5.0. The center-back pairing gifted goals again. More than one. Oleksandr Pikhalyonok – 6.0. Good ball-winning in midfield, but almost no creative output – his main asset was missing. Volodymyr Brazhko – 6.5. Scored the early goal, but his errors near his own box cost at least two goals. Mykola Shaparenko – 6.0. Plenty of running, a few dangerous moments, but he’s had more influential games in this campaign. Nazar Voloshyn – 5.5. Ineffective in attack, especially in the final third. Matviy Ponomarenko – 6.0. Still without a goal this season. Late on he could have scored twice – first hitting the keeper, then the post. Great movement, poor finishing. Eduardo Guerrero – 5.5. Started on the left, helped with the first goal, had a long-range attempt, but faded and was screaming for a substitution. Justin Lonwijk – 7.0. Second consecutive appearance and again productive. After a string of loans, he looks like he belongs at Dynamo. Bohdan Redushko – 6.0. In over half an hour he created only one chance – the one that led to Ponomarenko’s shot off the post. Vitaliy Buyalskyi – 6.5. Came on for 22 minutes, delivered a fine assist for Lonwijk – almost his only attacking contribution. Andriy Yarmolenko – 6.0. Experience helped organize the second goal, but nothing more. Valeriy Rubchynskyi – entered late, no rating.