Kostyuk: Ponomarenko scores these goals through pure skill

Dynamo Kyiv head coach Igor Kostyuk assessed his team's hard-fought 1-0 UPL victory over Karpaty. The manager noted that his side was well-prepared for the opposition's set-piece threat, which he identified as their main weapon.

"Of course, we studied this team and knew how they would play. Set-pieces are a real weapon they use. They have scored five goals from corners, so we analyzed that well," Kostyuk explained.

The defining moment of the match came from Matviy Ponomarenko's individual skill. The coach emphasized that the forward demonstrated excellent body positioning and the ability to strike unexpectedly.

These are his types of goals. He scores them through skill, using his body to shield the ball, and then strikes unexpectedly from under his feet. Igor Kostyuk

Kostyuk also expressed frustration with officiating, specifically regarding a foul on Mykola Pikhalyonok that went unpunished. Despite the tense nature of the second half, the coach believes the victory was well-deserved given his team's improved performance after the break.