Before the start of the spring battles in the "championship" group, it seemed that the leaders' positions, «Obolon» and «Polesie,» were invincible. Therefore, considering their points lead, they could already calmly prepare for the challenges of the elite division. However, their pursuers maintain a different perspective, and with each round in the battle for direct promotion to the UPL, the situation becomes increasingly complicated.

After an unexpectedly surprising victory by «Obolon» over the favorite, «Polesie,» in case of a win by the «pivovari» (brewers) against «Karpaty,» they would have become practically unreachable—at least for Lviv. Therefore, Andriy Tlumak's wards had no right to be complacent, and their lead before halftime raised no doubts. However, the matter did not come to fruition. But on the 58th minute, a newcomer to «Karpaty,» Oleksiy Khoblenko, opened his account with a goal for the Galician club, responding to a pass from Ambros Chachua. Shortly after, the situation became more complicated for Kyivans when Taras Moroz was sent off the field. However, they did not give up, stepped up their game, and after Ruslan Chernenko's shot, only the crossbar saved them from trouble. The «pivovari» achieved parity on the 87th minute when Chernenko found a gap in goalkeeper Dmitro Fatiyev's area—1:1. But the final word remained with «Karpaty.» On the 11th added minute, Ivan Bobko scored an effective penalty goal. Taking the lead (2:1), Lvivians move to third place and narrow their gap from «Obolon».

When footballers of «Metalurh» took the field against «Niva,» they already knew about «Karpaty's» success in the capital and had to catch up with them. However, Ternopilians not only did not yield to Zaporizhzhia residents but also went ahead early in the second half thanks to a masterful shot by Bohdan Kozak. And if Igor Gatala had scored again from a favorable position on the 84th minute, the question of who won could have been settled. But fortunately for «Metalurh,» the ball hit the crossbar. «Metalurh» saved themselves from defeat in added time when veteran Volodymyr Poliiov skillfully scored a penalty kick into the far corner. 1:1.

Another match that sparked great interest, «LNZ»—«Polesie,» was postponed due to mourning in Cherkasy following an airstrike by Russian aggressors on a residential building in Uman and took place today. Near the end of the first half, Polesians went ahead thanks to Pylyp Budkivskyi. Hosts equalized on the 54th minute when Nazariy Myravskyi scored accurately, but ten minutes later, leader of visitors Vasyl Hrytsuk converted a penalty kick. 1:2. The wards of Yurii Kalitvinets prove that this season they feel more comfortable playing away and return to first place. As for Cherkasy residents, they have significantly complicated their task of securing direct promotion to the UPL.

Table and schedule of the first league