Bliznyuk brought victory to Bliznyuk, Metalist 1925 was in the top three for the first time in a month. Personalities and figures of the 14th round of the first stage of the First League

Game program of the 14th round (video report here)

Already traditional:

• Read soon on our website the symbolic team of the next round
• interview with the hero of the tour, which Sport Arena determines together with the PFL

And now – our individual nominations:

In October, the leader of the eastern group experienced a certain decline – three rounds without victories, disqualifications began, and SK Poltava played in some matches without three (!) main players. Taking this into account, going to the capital, to Victoria, which had not lost in six matches – more than a month, was a difficult test for the townspeople. But, having conceded in the third minute, the guests showed strong will and won. The coaching staff was replaced, the home preparations worked well, so the leader confirmed his class by defeating one of his closest pursuers. If anyone spent the first part of the season on build-up and grinding, then SK Poltava used the first stage almost to the maximum in order to look with confidence into the spring part of the season.

• Analysis from the All-Ukrainian Association of Football Coaches – Here.

Young Vivdich had a bright start in this team, after a double from Alexandria and the Kremlin base, adding attacking potential and diversity to Poltava. However, this season he is only the third choice after the more experienced Marusich and Streltsov. A successful entry into the game from the bench in the central match of the tour is a significant trump card for the 21-year-old striker. Vivdich replaced Galenkov shortly after the break, which led to a major restructuring for the visitors, and in the end he earned a penalty for Shcherbak’s winning goal. The weight of this strong-willed victory over the closest pursuer at that time has yet to be fully appreciated by the leaders.

• SportArena.com statistics: 9 matches in the championship.

23-year-old Baida only returned to playing for the Cossacks at the end of September, replacing the younger Osadchuk. Not long ago he experienced a tough collision, being replaced and missing the next round. But in the match against FSK Mariupol played beyond all praise, parrying a number of attacks from the guests (about a dozen). The first victory under the leadership of Ilya Bliznyuk – a former good goalkeeper, a candidate for the Ukrainian national team – was won thanks to a strong goalkeeping performance. Well, to my son’s goal, about which in the following nominations.

• SportArena.com statistics: 5 matches in the championship, 6 goals conceded, 2 clean sheets.

Several penalties, an own goal, a rebound… What should you look at in the reporting round? It’s good that there was a match between Kremin and Kudrovka. In other circumstances, we would have been willing to nominate a penalty from Litovchenko, however, in our opinion, the beauty of the combination that preceded this goal even prevails. We quote the report: “The guests completed their attack with an aesthetically perfect combination. Teplyakov played with Litovchenko, who with his back to the goal threw him a reverse pass, and Nikita gently threw it over the goalkeeper – 0:1.”

You can watch the goal on video at 2:15

Read later on our website an interview with the player who scored and provided an assist in the match with Kremlin, which resulted in FC Kudrovka coming into second place.

• SportArena.com statistics: 6 league matches, 3 goals, 3 assists.

The leader and captain of Prykarpattya, Vasyl Tsyutsyura, capped Solovyov’s cross with a dizzying jump and scored against the Podolyans, after which he landed painfully and was immediately replaced. Hello! / Photo fc.if.ua

The son of the new head coach of the Cossacks, Vladimir Bliznyuk, found a good time to open the scoring with his goals in the First League – it was his accurate shot that brought Metallurg their first victory since the summer / photo mfcmetalurg.com

Metallurg won for the first time upon Ilya Bliznyuk’s return to the post of head coach. The victory was brought by a goal from his son Vladimir!

A few more interesting things:

• Metalist 1925 won their 50th victory in the First League and became third for the first time since the 8th round.
• Metalist 1925 won the third victory in a row in a 4-match unbeaten streak
• Niva cannot win seven matches since September 6 (three draws and four defeats against Ternopil)
• head coach of Ternopil Yuri Virt was sent off in the match with FC Minai (25th min.)
• Podolia lost the first match after V. Kostyshyn’s resignation (only one point in five rounds)
• Bukovina also does not win five matches in a row and Kriventsov’s suspension did not change the situation
• Prykarpattia goalkeeper Kucheruk has not missed 395 minutes (over 4 matches) – this is the fourth longest streak of the season, second in Group A and fourth overall in the 2024/25 First League Championship.
• Kremin suffered a fourth defeat in a row (overall score for the last month – 1:12)
• the last four rounds of some players: Moura from Metalist 1925 – 4 goals and 1 assist, Litovchenko from Kudrovka – 3 goals and 3 assists, Shcherbak from Poltava – 2 goals and 2 assists
• The 25th goal in the First League in his entire career was scored by Dmitry Shcherbak (SK Poltava) in the “Goal + pass” table, a change of leader – who overtook Kravchuk from Epicenter can be read below.

More interesting things in the PFL digital selection, whose information partner is Sport Arena.

• Tournament table after the 14th round
• Group A

• Group B

• Bombers

• Assistants

• Goal+ass

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All calculations by Arthur Valerko, SportArena.com. The material was written by the author in Ukrainian.