Sport Arena names the symbolic team of the next UPL round of the 2023/24 season, as well as the best in individual nominations, which are determined by our website for each round
On the website SportArena.com – teams of all rounds of the Ukrainian Premier League 2023/24. Who this time got into the top 11 and became the winner in individual categories?
Goalkeeper – Alexander Bandura (FC Minay)
Last season, Bandura made a great contribution to the historical – the highest for the entire time of performances in the championships of Ukraine – the eighth place of his club. In the new championship, an experienced goalkeeper is again doing his job at a high level. Several times he reacted to the aimed shots of the Dnipro-1 players (Rubchinsky, Pikhalenka), and also often came into play during innings and crosses. Once Bill, throwing the ball, hit the post. At the end of the game, Bandura parried Babenko’s not the worst shot from the 11-meter mark, then Tverdokhleb scored, and although the goalkeeper could not pull the second penalty from Blanco, this draw is a reward for his bright game.
Right back – Giorgi Gocholeishvili (Shakhtar)
The Georgian right-back was compared to Darijo Srna even before the move, and we now understand why. Giorgi provided assists during both Pitmen’s scoring combinations in the match against undefeated Oleksandriya, helping Shakhtar to an important victory. First, Zubkov connected him, and Gocholeishvili cut out a good serve under Sikan’s header. And then Gio himself played at the interception and assisted Traore. There was also a minus (it was from his zone that Shulyansky performed an assist), but this time the victory was won, and conclusions can be drawn for the next matches.
Central defender – Daniil Beskorovayny (Kryvbas)
First of all, we pay tribute to the Beskorovayny-Stetskov team for a quality game against the technical LNZ wingers and such an interesting striker as Pryadun. Although this is a newcomer to the UPL, who did not start in the best way, but the set of players that the Cherkasy club has makes it a dangerous opponent. Secondly, it was the central defenders who created the first goal. After Stetskov’s successful play, it was Daniil who opened the scoring, being ahead in attack with the second pace.
Central defender – Valery Bondarenko (Kolos)
The defense of Kolos, despite being 80% updated and mastering a new tactical scheme, did its job flawlessly in the starting three rounds. Actually Kolos is the last team of the championship, which still did not concede. Despite the fact that it completely updated the flanks, almost completely the center of defense, and also played enough of the young Fesyun instead of the main goalkeeper Volynets, who moved to Dnepr-1. In the match with the Rivne team, we will note Bondarenko. He twice blocked accurate shots from Veres’ players, played well against his counterparts and, together with Burda and Zolotov, practically eliminated the sharpness at his goal.
Left back – Andrey Tsurikov (Kolos)
This is the best round for left-backs, but Tsurikov stands out against the general background. He fully worked out the entire length of the left edge, having time at his own goal, where he often helped Bondarenko and Burda with blocks and interceptions, and also effectively connected to attacks. By the way, Andriy also hit Veres’s goal – in addition to the traditional work with passes and delivering the ball to someone else’s penalty area.
Central midfielder – Pavel Orikhovsky (Kolos)
Both goals against Veres were made with the direct participation of Orekhovsky. It was he who acted as an assistant at the opening of the account with a soft serve on the head of Bezborodko, and later converted a penalty kick earned by Vishniac’s joker – Demchenko. Pavel worked surprisingly well in the center of the field, acted as a liaison between different links of the blacksmiths’ tactical formations. As in the last season, the player remains the most effective in the Kolos attack group.
Right midfielder – Ilya Kvasnitsa (Rukh)
The 20-year-old Lviv winger scored three goals in three starting rounds. Barely coming on as a substitute in Zhytomyr, he immediately aggravated the game and distinguished himself with a shot on target by Boyko. Kvasnitsa interacted well both with his flank defender and with Klimchuk, with whom he had a good understanding. It was from the filing of Yuriy that Ilya shot into the far corner, thanks to which Rukh won an away victory over the most powerful debutant of the UPL – Polesie.
Attacking midfielder – Yegor Tverdokhleb (FC Minai)
Top match from Tverdokhleb. In a duet with Odaryuk, they had to stretch the defense of the Dnieper-1, and they succeeded. The guests simply could not keep up with the fast players, evidence of why is the removal of Sarapiy for a foul just against Yegor. Tverdokhleb himself hit Kinareikin’s goal several times from different positions, and even during serves and crosses, he boldly went to the young goalkeeper – he made mistakes on the exits and did not have time with backaches. When in the end Egor shot past Kinareykin on the second attempt after a pass from the right flank, this almost gave Minai the victory. Guests escaped, but Tverdokhleb gave all his strength in this game.
Left midfielder – Domingo Blanco (SC Dnipro-1)
FC Minai created a lot of problems for the vice-champion of Ukraine and could even win. However, Mingo, despite all the rumors about a possible departure from Dnipro-1, pulled out this match in his high class. Replacing Pikhalenok, Blanco began to connect the game guests. It was he who earned the second penalty, having realized it, unlike Babenko, ten minutes earlier. Moreover, Mingo led the game of the Kuchera team. Actually, now we would be talking about the hero of the tour, if Kohut had not ruined the moment created by the Argentine late in stoppage time.
Forward – Eduardo Guerrero (Zorya)
The Panamanian was expected in Zorya’s starting lineup and he was worth the wait. Guerrero, in the very debut of the match in Poltava, started on Voloshin’s pass and shot into the near corner, finding the weak point of goalkeeper Isenko. Then Eduardo ran great from the depths, using the space along with Antyukh. In one such counterattack, Guerrero himself did not hit the goal, in the other Denis charged into the goal post. An important victory is the first for Lalatovich in Zara.
Forward – Samson Onomigo Iede (Chernomorets)
The Nigerian did a great job in the match against Obolon. Even in the first half, Samson carried out shooting at the gates of Kiev. Then he earned a removal for the defender Karas, who demolished him on the edge of the field. And already in the majority, Iede “dined” on the rebound, when Fedorivsky parried Kuzik’s blow. What Samson Jede really likes is the timeliness of actions and the competent choice of the position of stay. On these intuitive qualities, he achieved a good start as part of the Odessa team.
Kolos is so successful in applying the new tactics that he hasn’t lost or missed four matches in a row. Moreover, the Kovalevites remain among the five clubs that have not yet lost in the new championship, and already the only ones who have not conceded goals. This success is all the more paradoxical, given that in the summer Kolos lost his main long-term goalkeeper Volynets, updated his defense by 80%, and also switched to a new scheme with three defenders – and at the same time only with the benefit of the result.
Analysis from the All-Ukrainian Association of Football Coaches – here.
His last name is not on the list of goalscorers or assistants, but Demchenko’s role in the victory over Veres is significant. Replacing Veletnya in the 52nd minute, he earned a penalty in the middle of the second half, from which Orikhovsky doubled the advantage of the Kovalev team and set the final score. Demchenko’s role in Vishniak’s tactical formations is quite significant – depending on the phase of the game, he is either the first to join his teammates in tackling the ball, or he is the first to start new attacks with guiding passes. By coming on as a substitute, he again benefited his new team.
- Sport Arena stats: 3 matches in the championship.
In the 56th minute of the Zhytomyr match, Rukh’s coaching staff made a double substitution to revive the attack. Instead of Teslyuk and Solomon, Kvasnitsa and Runich entered the field. Probably, these, as well as later substitutions made by Ponomarev, justified themselves – after the break, the Lviv team nailed it and snatched the victory. It was Kvasnitsa, one of the first substitutions of the guests, who, after Klimchuk’s pass, scored the only and winning goal in the 90th minute against Polesie.
- Sport Arena stats: 3 league matches, 2 goals, 1 assist.
The Burkinian is one of those heroes of the new season who are undeservedly little talked about. In victorious matches with Metalist 1925 and Alexandria, it was Traore who scored Shakhtar’s second goals, which were actually victorious. In the reporting round, Lassina scored after Gocholeishvili’s serve, but he could have scored more. He worked usefully up front and gave good passes. In particular, Kryskiv could score after his pass. All this – in just one first half.
- Sport Arena stats: 3 league matches, 2 goals.
The best player of this round was the player who scored himself and assisted Bezborodko in the victory match with Veres.
- Sport Arena stats: 3 league matches, 1 goal, 1 assist.
Source: Sportarena
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