Dynamo Kyiv need to show character to overcome a 3-1 deficit against Ajax

Dynamo Kyiv need to show character to overcome a 3-1 deficit against Ajax

Dynamo Kyiv vs Ajax  – Tuesday, August 28, 20:00 BST/21:00 CEST  – NSK Olimpiyskyi, Kyiv, Ukraine

Dynamo Kyiv vs Ajax will take place at the NSC Olimpiyskiy Complex in Kyiv. (Photo by Genya Savilov/EuroFootball/Getty Images)

Dynamo Kyiv vs Ajax will take place at the NSC Olimpiyskiy Complex in Kyiv. (Photo by Genya Savilov/EuroFootball/Getty Images)

 It was an almost devastating blow for Dynamo Kyiv at the Johan de Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam. In the first 45 minutes, Dynamo were overwhelmed by an Ajax side that was playing vintage Dutch fooball.

Furthermore, it did not help that goalkeeper Denys Boyko had buttered his gloves ahead of the match as Donny van de Beek’s shot in the second minute should have never found a way through. Overall, however, it was hard to blame the keeper for what happened in the first half.

Dynamo were sluggish, and even though they pulled one back in the 15′ minute, defender Tomasz Kedziora scored with a thundering header off a corner, Hakim Ziyech (35′) and Dusan Tadić (43′) made it 3-1 by halftime. The Ukrainians then spent much of the second 45 minutes trying to salvage the game.

Ajax were too disciplined to let Dynamo back in the match. In fact, it was a match worthy of two giants of football that had each, in their ways, influenced the European game in the past decades.

Only one of them can go through, however, and at the moment that team appears to be Ajax. Dynamo was visible under shock from the events in Amsterdam.

Facing Chornomorets Odessa on the weekend, Dynamo had to make due with a 1-1 draw after a sluggish performance. It was the first time that Kyiv, who are coached by former midfielder Aleksandr Khatskevich dropped points in the Ukrainian Premier League this season.

As a result, Dynamo are now third in the table, although with one game less, behind Shakhtar Donetsk and surprise package FK Oleksandriya. Ajax, in the meantime, made no prisoners 5-0 victory over FC Emmen with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (two goals), Hakim Ziyech (two goals) and Dusan Tadić (one goal) showing the sort of chemistry demonstrated against Dynamo last Wednesday.

The results against both Dynamo and Emmen, in fact, are perfect timing for head coach Erik ten Hag. The bench boss had come under criticism in recent weeks but could secure his position by reaching the Champions League group stage on Tuesday at the Olimpiyskyi in Kyiv.

Dynamo Kyiv vs Ajax – Players to look out for:

Viktor Tsygankov #15 – Dynamo Kyiv

Despite adding Vladyslav Supriaha from Dnipro-1, the striker will miss this match with an injury, Viktor Tsygankov remains Dynamo’s biggest talent. The youngster, however, was mostly shut down by Ajax Amsterdam in the first leg. Going into the second leg Dynamo will need goals to overcome the deficit, and Tsygankov needs to show that he can have an impact in big matches.

Viktor Tsygankov is Dynamo Kyiv's biggest talent (ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Viktor Tsygankov is Dynamo Kyiv’s biggest talent (ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Matthijs de Ligt #4 – Ajax

The 19-year-old centre-back Matthijs de Ligt is the face of this Ajax Amsterdam side. Captaining the team the 188cm tall defender could be seen celebrating with the fans following his club’s win in the Champions League third round qualifiers against Standard Liege. A natural leader de Ligt hardly ever shows his young age on the pitch. It is one of the reasons why he is the number one transfer target among many European top clubs looking to add more depth in defence.

Matthijs de Ligt of Ajax celebrates scoring his teams second goal of the game during the UEFA Champions League third round qualifying match between Ajax and Royal Standard de Liege at Johan Cruyff Arena on August 14, 2018 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Matthijs de Ligt of Ajax celebrates scoring his teams second goal of the game during the UEFA Champions League third round qualifying match between Ajax and Royal Standard de Liege at Johan Cruyff Arena on August 14, 2018 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Dynamo Kyiv vs Ajax – Match Stats

  • Dutch runners-up v Ukrainian runners-up
  • Ajax beat Dynamo 3-2 on aggregate in 2010/11 play-offs
  • Last UEFA Champions League group stage: Ajax 2014/15, Dynamo 2016/17
  • Ajax lead 3-1 from first leg in Amsterdam
  • Van de Beek, Ziyech & Tadić on target
  • Last group stage: Dynamo 2016/17, Ajax 2014/15

Futbolgrad Network Prediction: Dynamo Kyiv vs Ajax – 2-1

Dynamo Kyiv vs Ajax – Lineups

Dynamo Kyiv:

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Boyko – Pivarić, Kádár, Shabanovm Kedziora – Buyalsky, Tchê Tchê – Verbić, Andrievsky, Tsygankov – Besiedin

Head Coach: Aleksandr Khatskevich

Ajax:

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Onana – Tagliafico, Blind, de Ligt, Mazraoui – de Jong, Tadić, Schöne – Labyad, Huntelaar, Ziyech

Head Coach: Erik ten Hag

Manuel Veth is the owner and Editor in Chief of the Futbolgrad Network. He also works as a freelance journalist and among others works for the Bundesliga and Pro Soccer USA. He holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in History from King’s College London, and his thesis is titled: “Selling the People’s Game: Football’s transition from Communism to Capitalism in the Soviet Union and its Successor States,” which is available HERE. Originally from Munich, Manuel has lived in Amsterdam, Kyiv, Moscow, Tbilisi, London, and currently is located in Victoria BC, Canada.  Follow Manuel on Twitter @ManuelVeth.

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