Historic Achievement by FC Chernihiv
FC Chernihiv, a team from Ukraine’s First League, made history by scoring against Dynamo Kyiv in the Ukrainian Cup final. The goal came in the 34th minute, marking the first time a First League representative has ever found the net in the tournament's championship match. At that moment, Dynamo Kyiv led 1–0. The scorer was Romanchenko, who headed the ball into the net following a free-kick assist from Shalfieiev.
The final took place at Arena Lviv, featuring Chernihiv and Dynamo Kyiv. Chernihiv is only the second First League side to reach the Ukrainian Cup final; the first was Inhulets from Petrove in the 2018/19 season, who lost 4–0 to Shakhtar Donetsk. This achievement underscores the growing competitiveness in Ukrainian football, where lower-division clubs are increasingly challenging the country’s top teams.
Starting Lineups
Chernihiv’s starting eleven in the final included:
- Tatarenko
- Kartushov
- Zenchenko
- Romanchenko
- Galstyan
- Bybyk
- Shushko
- Shalfieiev
- Porokhnia
- Serdiuk
- Bezborodko
Dynamo Kyiv’s starting lineup featured:
- Neshcheret
- Karavaiev
- Bilovar
- Mykhavko
- Vivcharenko
- Brazhko
- Voloshyn
- Buialskyi
- Shaparenko
- Ohundanu
- Ponomarenko
Both teams endured challenging routes to the final. Chernihiv entered the tournament in the round of 64, where they defeated Atlet Kyiv (Second League) 1–0 thanks to a goal by Shushko. In the round of 32, they lost to Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih on penalties, but Kryvbas was later handed a 3–0 technical defeat for violating foreign player limits. Chernihiv then advanced through subsequent rounds solely via penalty shootouts: against Lisnyi (1–1, 4–3 on penalties, with Romanchenko scoring), Feniks-Mariupol (0–0, 5–4 on penalties), and Metalist 1925 Kharkiv (0–0, 6–5 on penalties).
Dynamo Kyiv began their cup campaign in the round of 32, defeating Oleksandriia 2–1 under manager Oleksandr Shovkovskyi. In the round of 16, they beat Shakhtar Donetsk 2–1, followed by a quarterfinal victory over Inhulets. In the semifinals, Dynamo overcame Bukovyna Chernivtsi 3–0, with Ponomarenko scoring twice and Voloshyn adding another goal.
The Ukrainian Cup final marked a significant milestone for Chernihiv, who, despite being a First League side, delivered a respectable performance against one of the nation’s strongest clubs.
This match highlights the rising level of competition in domestic football, as teams from lower divisions demonstrate their ability to contend with Ukrainian giants. Such historic moments can inspire young players and fans while fostering the growth of regional clubs.
The match faced unexpected challenges even before kickoff, as an air raid alert in Lviv delayed the start of the Ukrainian Cup final. This incident added an unusual layer of tension to an already historic event, showcasing the resilience of both teams as they navigated through these unforeseen circumstances.