A week ago, in the home match of the UEFA Europa League playoff round in Košice, Dnipro-1 lost to AEK — 1:2. Now, however, Oleksandr Kucher's wards played their return match in Larnaca. The Ukrainians had serious personnel losses: Adamyuk, Puriya, and Sarapio could not play for various reasons, and only four substitutes were available.

At the start of the meeting, the teams exchanged several inaccurate shots. On the 21st minute, AEK went ahead — the ball flew into Valef's goal after Dürçeo's shot from outside the penalty area and a small deflection.

Photo scdnipro1.com.ua

After that, Dnipro-1 took the initiative and created many good opportunities but the ball stubbornly refused to go in. For example, Blanco, Svatos, Dobych, and Pikhalonok had dangerous shots. All the more illogical is AEK's second goal just before halftime — after a cross from the left, Lopes played on for a rebound and outmaneuvered Dnipro-1’s goalkeeper.

Photo scdnipro1.com.ua

In the second half, Ukrainians lost several more opportunities, including a header over the bar by Hutsulak. In turn, AEK scored their third goal — Englezou finished off a flank cross with an unstoppable shot from outside the box. Ultimately, Dnipro-1 conceded 0:3.

After exiting the Europa League, sports club players will continue their journey in the group stage of the UEFA Conference League, whose draw will take place on August 26th.

Photo scdnipro1.com.ua

It should be noted that in the lineup of Dnipro-1, players who were included in the national team's June matches participated — Pikhalonok and Dobych.

UEFA Europa League 2022/2023. Playoff Round. Return Match

AEK (Cyprus) — Dnipro-1 (Ukraine) — 3:0 (2:0)

Goals: Dürçeo (21), Lopes (45), Englezou (78).

AEK: Piric, Rosales, Milicevic, Gonzalez (c), Englezou (Gama, 87), Ojea, Gustavo, Farahe (Mamas, 74), Altman (Garcia, 74), Dürçeo (Naum, 83), Lopes (Olatundji, 73).

Substitutes: Tumbas, Stilianidis, Casas, Romo, Kipros, Andreu.

Coach: José Luis Oltra.

Dnipro-1: Valef, Tanchyk, Svatos (c), Logyin (Rubchynskyi, 73), Buzanello, Blanco, Babenko, Hutsulak (Nazarenko, 58), Pikhalonok, Gromov (Kogut, 70), Dobych.

Substitutes: Rybak, Yurchuk, Kononenko.

Coach: Valeriy Gorodov.

Referee: Davide Massa (Italy).

Booked: Gustavo (61), Lopes (74), Garcia (90+1) — Logyin (14), Babenko (42).

August 25. Larnaca. AEK Arena.

First leg — 2:1.