A week ago, Mircea Lucescu's wards conceded to the Greek "AEK Athens" in Thessaloniki — 0:1. The nominal home match reply was played in Bucharest, which is familiar territory for their Romanian coach.

In the first half, the white-and-blue team tried to control the ball while their opponents focused on counterattacks. After just one of their own moments, at the 39th minute, "AEK Athens" opened the score — a combination involving Moberg-Karlsson and Palma was finished off by ex-player of Shakhtar and Dnipropetrovsk-1 Juraszek.

Despite this, Dynamo equalized before halftime. After Sidorchuk's intricate pass, Nazar scored with an equally effective header past goalkeeper Voloshin. This is Nazar's first goal in European competitions.

At the start of the second half, Shaparenko shot from distance into the box, while the Greeks responded with a dangerous attack during which Moberg-Karlsson narrowly missed closing out a long cross. Later, Sidorchuk twice bypassed the goalposts. The opponents had an inaccurate long attempt by Darija.

On the 77th minute, Yarmolenko intercepted the ball in front of the opposing penalty area but shot directly into Hutseitsis' hands. Shortly after, the Greek keeper saved a fine strike from Boychuk. And finally, on the 85th minute, Dynamo scored thanks to substitutes: Andreievsky made an excellent pass from midfield and Karavaev touched it in.

Later, Andreievsky could have scored himself but his penalty was saved by Hutseitsis, while Dychuk almost sliced the ball into his own goal after a flank cross. Also, during injury time, Dynamo missed out on a corner kick opportunity when Leysmann failed to capitalize.

The score of 2-1 in favor of the Kyivans meant that the match went into extra time. At its start, Yarmolenko narrowly missed closing out an unsafe cross by Diallo. The Greeks also regularly threatened Bущan's goal but failed to break through.

On the 106th minute, "AEK Athens" were reduced to ten men — Pavichic received his second yellow card. However, Dynamo could not capitalize on their numerical advantage. Moreover, on the 116th minute, Bущan saved his team from a corner kick shot by Leysmann.

In conclusion, the teams settled for a penalty shootout where Odubadjo's miss was decisive — 6-5 in favor of Dynamo. Now, in the play-off round of the Conference League, the white-and-blues will face Turkish "Besiktas". The first match will be played at home on August 24th, with the return leg away on August 31st.

The players who participated in the game were those called up for the last national team training camp: Bущan (yellow card), Timchik (substituted at the 72nd minute), Sidorchuk (goal assist, substituted at the 72nd minute), Yarmolenko (substituted at the 106th minute), Boychuk, Vana (substituted at the 106th minute).

Conference League-2023/2024. Third Qualifying Round. Match Reply

"Dynamo" (Ukraine) — "AEK Athens" (Greece) — 2:1 (1:1, 2:1), on penalties — 6:5

Goals: Voloshin (45), Karavaev (85) — Juraszek (39).

Penalty shootout: Brajko — 1:0, Leysmann — 1:1, Andreievsky — 2:1, Menendez — 2:1 (goalkeeper), Diallo — 3:1, Rupp — 3:2, Perris — 3:2 (goalkeeper), Ferrari — 3:3, Benito — 4:3, Christodoulopoulos — 4:4, Dychuk — 5:4, Samora — 5:5, Dubynchak — 6:5, Odubadjo — 6:5 (wide).

"Dynamo": Bущan, Timchik (Karavaev, 72), Dychuk, Syrota, Dubynchak, Sidorchuk (c) (Brajko, 72), Shaparenko (Andreievsky, 72), Yarmolenko (Perris, 106), Boychuk, Voloshin (Diallo, 82), Vana (Benito, 106).

Substitutes: Nescheret, Viycharenko, Shepeliev, Kabayev, Tsyarenko, Bilovar.

Coach: Mircea Lucescu.

"AEK Athens": Hutseitsis, Montoya, Leysmann (c), Odubadjo, Ferrari, Juraszek (Rupp, 59), Juil (Samora, 106), Darija (Pavichic, 75), Moberg-Karlsson (Menendez, 59), Moron (Christodoulopoulos, 82), Palma (Matarrita, 82).

Substitutes: Julian, Panagidis.

Coach: Apostolos Tzeris.

Referee: Sebastian Hategamir (Austria).

Warned: Syrota (105+1), Andreievsky (110), Dubynchak (off the field), Bущan (off the field) — Pavichic (80), Palma (82), Matarrita (89), Odubadjo (111), Christodoulopoulos (off the field).

Red card: Pavichic (106, "A").

August 17. Bucharest. Rapid-Gulaiesti Stadium.

First match — 0:1.