Metalist 1925 beat Vorskla and left the direct relegation zone

Metalist 1925 beat Viktor Skripnik in the derby Vorsklahaving won their first victory in six months – 3:2.

Match of the 27th round Ukrainian Premier League was nominally home for Kharkovites and was usually held at the Kyiv arena “Left Bank”. Metalist 1925 played strongly in the first half hour and capped it with a goal from a corner – Nikita Bezugly finished off Artem Gabelka’s cross.

Vorskla improved and equalized the score during a combination attack. There was some luck – Ibrahim Kane’s shot was helped by a rebound from Marjan Farina. But Skrypnyk’s team still won the half: Gabelok intercepted the ball near someone else’s penalty area and upset Pavel Isenko with a low shot.

The second half was a nervous and equal fight. Vorskla had a chance to equalize the score – in particular, Oleg Mozil saved after Alexander Sklyar’s shot from several meters.

In response, Dmitry Yusov missed a moment of similar wit. However, he soon corrected himself, confidently converting a penalty for handball against Felipe, who had just come on as a substitute. In stoppage time, for a similar offense, a penalty kick was awarded to the Mozil goal, and it was converted by Ruslan Stepanyuk.

The long-awaited victory came to the Kharkiv team for the first time in 15 matches. The last time, back in Edmure, the 1925s won on November 5th. Having scored 22 points, the Kharkiv team overtook Veres and rose to 14th place, in the zone of transition matches. However, Skripnik’s team’s competitors, Veres and Minaj, have not yet played against each other in this round (their meeting is scheduled for May 6).

Vorskla remained eighth. In the next round, the Poltava team will host Minai, and Metalist 1925 will play away against Chernomorets.

• UPL. 27th round

Metalist 1925 — Vorskla — 3:2 (2:1)

Goals: Bezugly, 26, Gabelok, 39, Yusov, 79, pen. — Kane, 32, Stepanyuk, 90+4, from pen.