Ukrainian Premier League Awards
Dynamo Kyiv forward Matviy Ponomarenko and Polissya Zhytomyr head coach Ruslan Rotan have been honored with Ukrainian Premier League awards. Ponomarenko scored a brace in Dynamo's 4-0 victory over Epitsentr Kamianets-Podilskyi, with both goals coming in the second half, solidifying his role as the team's primary striker following the winter break. The Ukrainian Premier League is the top tier of professional football in the country.
Meanwhile, Ruslan Rotan guided Polissya to a 3:1 win over LNZ Cherkasy. This result allowed Polissya to close the gap on LNZ to just two points in the league standings. Shakhtar Donetsk remains the sole leader at the top of the UPL table.
Team of the Round and Ukrainian Cup
The symbolic Team of the Round for matchday 18 has also been announced, selected in a 4-3-3 formation. Players from the following clubs were included in the selection:
- Dynamo
- Polissya
- Kolos Kovalivka
- Shakhtar
- Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih
- Kudrivka
The full Team of the Round for matchday 18 is: Pakholyuk, Konoplia, Bondar, Sarapii, Dibango, Andriyevskyi, Brazhko, Emerllahu, Morozko, Ponomarenko, Mendoza.
In other news, Dynamo Kyiv became the first team to reach the Ukrainian Cup semi-finals after defeating Inhulets Petrove. Guerrero and Pikhalyonok scored the goals for Dynamo in that match. Dynamo veteran Andriy Yarmolenko has now drawn level with former Ukraine national team striker Yevhen Seleznyov for the number of UPL goals scored, entering the top three all-time scorers in the league's history. Only Serhiy Rebrov and Oleksandr Shatskikh now sit ahead of Yarmolenko on the all-time UPL scoring chart.
These developments highlight the competitive activity of Ukrainian clubs, with Dynamo's progress in the cup and Polissya's rise in the league. Yarmolenko's statistical milestone underscores his lasting impact on Ukrainian football. The situation at the top of the UPL table remains tight, and upcoming matches could significantly alter the balance of power in the league.