UEFA YOUTH LEAGUE: Dynamo Kyiv 4-1 FC Barcelona

The FC Barcelona U19s have suffered 4-1 defeat in Kyiv in a game that was hugely conditioned by the first half sending off of Ilias Akhomach when the score was still 1-1. The Ukrainians made the extra man count and the result leaves Barça with a lot of work to do if they are to reach the next round.

In fact, even if they win their two remaining games, there is a strong chance that that won’t be enough to secure one of the top two places Group E.

Red card

Samba Diallo may have put the home side ahead after just 9 minutes, but the early stages of the game were extremely tight, and Barça had already caused plenty of threat before Txus Alba picked out Juanda to beat home stopper Neshcheret in a 1-on-1 to level the scores after 36 minutes.

But immediately after the goal, Ilias Akhomach received his second yellow card of the game. It was a tough decision as the foul seemed to be accidental as the result of a slip more than anything intentional, but Barça’s task was made somewhat more difficult – and was made even harder when Popov headed Dynamo back into the lead just before the break. 

Uphill battle

Barça did all they could to react in the second half, but Dynamo are a well-drilled outfit and they knew exactly how to exploit the extra man. Diachuk tucked in number three on 66 minutes and the Ukrainians rubbed salt into the wound with a fourth after 82 minutes.

A sorry result, nor helped at all by the circumstances, but let’s hope the fortune that was missing in this game will instead be granted to the seniors later in the day.

MATCH STATS 

Dynamo Kyiv, 4
Barça U19A, 1

Dynamo Kyiv: Nescheret, Benediuk, Bol, Diachuk, Vivcharenko, Tsarenko (Skripnik, min. 92), Brazhko, Yatsyk, Voloshyn (Malysh, min. 89), Popov (Horbach, min. 92), Diallo (El Khamlichi, min. 84).
Barça U19A: Rafús, Juanola (Pedrola, min. 56), Almeida (Valle, min. 73), Riad, Solà, Garrido (Casas, min. 84), Casadó, Txus Alba (Luzzi, min. 73), Ilias Akhomach, Barberá (Bah, min. 84), Juanda.
Goals: 1-0, Diallo (min. 2); 1-1, Juanda (min. 37); 2-1, Popov (min. 45); 3-1, Diachuk (min. 66); 4-1, Diallo (min. 83)