Dynamo Kyiv faced-off against Sporting Lisbon
A Ukrainian football team has played in a competitive match for the first time on Thursday since Russia invaded the country.
Dynamo Kyiv’s under-19 side faced-off against Sporting Lisbon in the last-16 of the UEFA Youth League in Bucharest on Thursday afternoon.
The Dynamo youngsters walked onto the field with Ukraine flags, with a minute of silence also held before kick-off to honour the victims of the conflict in Ukraine.
Football in Ukraine was suspended indefinitely
Football in Ukraine – including the Premier League and other domestic competitions – was suspended indefinitely once the invasion began.
However, Dynamo Kyiv’s under-19 side, who were the only Ukrainian team left in UEFA competition this season, were able to play their match against Sporting, which they lost 2-1.
The away side went ahead thanks to two goals from Diogo Cabral, before Dynamo midfielder Volodymyr Brazhko pulled one back with a penalty just after half-time.
Peace for Ukraine 🇺🇦@DynamoKyiv 🤜🤛#NoWar pic.twitter.com/aLGfu7wqwx
— Sporting CP (@SportingCP) April 7, 2022
Sporting’s victory sees them progress to the quarter-finals of the competition, where they will take on their compatriots Benfica.
The match was originally set to be played in Kyiv on March 2, however, the Portuguese outfit were reluctant to travel to the country.
Uefa pushed the date back to March 9, by which time Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had started.
The Dynamo youngsters moved to Romania in the middle of March, with FCSB owner Gigi Becali providing them with accommodation and training facilities.
Ukraine’s World Cup qualifying play-off postponed until June
The Ukrainian national team’s World Cup qualifying play-off against Scotland was postponed from March until June as a result of the ongoing conflict.
The winner of the tie will face-off against Wales for a place at the tournament in Qatar later this year, where England, Iran and the USA await in the group stage.
Related links:
- Russia suspended from United Nations’ Human Rights Council following Ukraine invasion
- Roman Abramovich ‘suffered suspected poisoning’ following Russia-Ukraine peace talks
- Oleksandr Usyk explains why he’s left Ukraine for Anthony Joshua rematch
