Life in Ukraine had picked up just as life in Greece had ended, with Trebor Mahtal winning football matches at an impressive rate. He’d just led hustlers Dynamo Kyiv side six points at the top of the Ukrainian Premier League after a narrow victory against rivals Shakhtar Donetsk and had the majority of a European campaign to look forward to.
Seeking Euro Qualification
Dynamo’s Europa Conference League league phase continued against Radomiak, who’d impressively followed promotion to the Polish top tier with back-to-back 3rd-place finishes. But they were no match for Dynamo, who eased to a 2-0 victory through centre back Oleksandr Syrota and top scorer Vladyslav Vanat. The toughest game of the group was at home to Rangers, who dominated the game and grabbed a deserved late equaliser to draw 2-2. A rotated side won 4-0 at Finnish side HJK, including 17-year-old wide player Yevhen Riabtsev scoring the opener and midfielder Mykola Shaparenko returning from a fractured skull with a goal and an assist. And the final game saw an Ivanov brace lead a 4-1 thumping of Ludogorets secure qualification as the top scorers.
The last 16 saw Dynamo drawn with Austria Wien. Goals in each leg by the strikeforce of Dmitrovic and Vladyslav Vanat secured a 2-1 win in Austria then a 2-2 at home. Next up was Basel and they took control in Switzerland as goals by midfielders Volodymyr Brazhko and winger Vitinho earned a 3-1 success. Shapareko scored twice in a wild 3-3 home leg that ensured progression.
That sent Dynamo into the semis where they again faced Rangers. A trip to Scotland was up first and a resolute defensive effort and Yanat’s smart close-range finish nicked a 1-0 victory. Dynamo started the home leg well and took advantage through striker Darko Dmitrovic’s close-range finish only for Hagi to quickly equalise. But they bossed the second half and another Dmitrovic finish secured a 2-1 win that sent Dynamo into the Final!
Maintaining Dynamo’s Title Charge
Dynamo continued their strong start as young striker Mikhail Ivanov scored a late winner at affiliate club Zoria. That gave them the confidence to record more comprehensive three-goal victories over Karpaty, Oleksandria and Veres, including summer signing Dmitrovic scoring a brace in the latter. That kept them six points clear going into a two-month winter break.
That break saw them sell full back Moussa Wagué, whose contract expiring, for £3.1m to Lens and replace him with 17-year-old academy prospect Volodymyr Lysiuk. They also sold out-of-favour striker Matviy Ponomarenko to Sepsi for £3.7m and 31-year-old midfielder Danilo Ignatenko for £4.1m to Reims.
The latter was replaced by exciting 5ft 2in midfielder Seydou Diarrassouba for £2.5m from Petrolul, who was later named number 20 on NxGn 2029, along with promising goalkeeper Jorge Ararat for £1.1m from Millonarios, who’ll step up next season when 34-year-old Heorhiy Bushchan leaves. The signing of Diarrassouba forced Mahtal into a slight tactical tweak, pushing one of his holding midfielders up into midfield to take a slightly more attacking approach.
The title charge resumed with a 4-1 win at home to lowly Kryvbas with goals by Vitinho, Shaparenko, Vanat and midfielder Anton Tsarenko. Diarrassouba announced his arrival with a first-half brace in a 5-1 hammering of Rukh before a rotated side thumped LNZ 7-1 with hat tricks by Ivanov and substitute Vanat. The European focuses saw Mahtal rotate his side for the league games, which saw results drop off – but they still remained unbeaten after 27 games. And that 27th game was a 0-0 at home to Metalist that secured the title in unconvincing fashion, before finally losing 3-0 at Shakhtar.
Byt Dynamo dominated the Ukrainian league, romping to the title with 77 points after 24 wins, 5 draws and 1 defeat. They won the league by 9 points from Shakhtar and 19 from Kolos, scoring a league-high 78 and conceding a league-low 17. Interestingly, none of their players topped the player rankings, but Vanat’s 17 in 25 was only bettered by Kolos’ Kiril Popov scoring an impressive 22 in 23.
Europa Conference League Final
Pretty unexpectedly, a stellar campaign had seen Dynamo Kyiv progress all the way to the European Conference League Final. They were seeking a third European title but standing in their way was Brighton, who were chasing a first major trophy, as fans from England and Ukraine flocked to Glasgow’s Celtic Park. Mahtal lost Diarrassouba and Buschchan to injury so lined up:
Ararat; Diachuk, Syrota, Vicharenko; Momot, Brazhko, Shaparenko, Tsarenko, Vitinho; Dmitrovic, Vanat
Subs: Yaremchuk, Surkis, Mitoglou, Kovac, Riabtsev, Ivanov, Lysiuk, Sychov, Sánchez, Popov
Brighton bossed the early stages and deservedly led as Ferguson scored from 20 yards, but Ararat should have saved it. They continued to dominate so on 40 minutes, Mahtal changed to a wide 4-3-3. That had an immediate result as Dmitrovic crossed for opposite wideman Vitinho to head home at the back post. Brighton continued to be much the better side and Mitoma and Ferguson both shot narrowly wide. But against the run of play after 72 minutes, Tsarenko slid Vanat, who’d been awful up until then, in to calmly slot the ball home and put Dynamo in front. Mahtal sured things up and Brighton offered nothing, so Dynamo eased to a probably undeserved victory.
Dynamo Kyiv won the European Conference League!
Another Season of Unexpected Success
Mahtal knew his Dynamo side would give Shakhtar a good fight domestically, but he never thought that European success would be on the cards – this season or in this save generally.
Vanat led the way with 32 goals in 44 games followed by Vitinho (18), Dmitrovic (14), Brazhko (13) and Ivanov (12). Tsarenko was the main creative force with 16 assists followed by Vitinho (14), and right back Vladyslav Momot and wide centre back Kostiantyn Vivcharenko (10). And their efforts were rewarded as Vitinho won the ECL player of the season and Vanat the top scorer award with 15 in 19.
Mahtal’s remarkable run as a Football Manager continued as he made it four successive top-tier titles, adding the Ukrainian success to the three he won in Greece. While the European success hadn’t even been on his agenda when he started out on this adventure.
So would he stay at Dynamo Kyiv next season or seek out pastures new again? Join us on Friday to find out!
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