The match with Kolos of Derhachi was as timely as ever: it took place several days before the start of the Ukrainian Futsal Championship. Phoenix needed that kind of opposition: the players who are motivated, fast-paced, older and physically strong. In today’s game the Derhachi team showed all the qualities mentioned above. Moreover, Vadym Semenchenko’s team has made quite a good progress in terms of play over the last two seasons. So, Phoenix players turned out to have but perfect rivals.

The conditions would have been perfect, too, had the match been held indoors. The quarantine restrictions, though, resulted in the situation when for the first time in its history the City Open Championship was held in the open air, which is probably not that bad in terms of physical training. On the other hand, for Phoenix the lack of opportunity to practice and play indoors is quite a disadvantage, given the proximity of the national competition.

The staffing of both teams was as fortunate as ever, with some exceptions: Kolos played without Danylo Prykhodko and we were short of Artem Shevchenko. Maksym Dolhulia was the pivot in the first four-player squad and Oleksandr Bezruk – in the second one. At the start of the meeting Phoenix controlled the territorial play, the first chances occurring at our goalmouth, though. Eldar Bratchuk showed great defensive skills at our goalmouth in the first half, succouring the team in a number of episodes. His finally confident linkups with the attack were a pleasure to watch.

Kolos showed quite a robust play and mobility, having added just enough physical struggle to the game, not crossing from roughness to rudeness. Generally, the players behaved quite decently, with a yellow card in it, though. Danylo Dudin was awarded with one in minute 34.

Phoenix had a slim disadvantage in terms of goal attempts and a solid advantage in accuracy. Out of Phoenix’s 18 goal attempts 12 were on target, whereas only 7 out of 19 Kolos’ goal attempts were accurate. Moreover, all those seven shots took place in the second half.

Both goals Phoenix scored in the first half. In minute five Mykhailo Soldatenko took Maksym Dolhulia to the shooting position and the latter opened the scoring. Before the very end of the first half Danylo Dudin sent a powerful kick under the crossbar.

In the second half Kolos looked more active and the chances at our goalmouth grew more and more dangerous. Denys Mikhno saved us from conceding, having prevented the opposition from sending the ball into the empty net. Yaroslav Tokarenko managed to requite, though, scoring a goal 4 minutes before the end of the match.

That goal inspired the Derhachi players and still Phoenix held up well bringing the match to a victorious close in an even and disciplined manner. The win lifted Phoenix from the bottom position in the standings – such an uncommon one – which the team had been taking since it was beaten by Valki Sports School (2005) in the first round of the Championship.

Phoenix' next game will take place in Chornomorsk, as part of the first round of the Ukrainian Futsal Championship High League. The first rival is No 4 Rivne Sports School with which we exchanged victories during the Futsal Fair in Lutsk last month. No spectators will be allowed to the games of the Championship, so live coverage is provided by the AFU. We hope the games will reward our fans with positive emotion and not much worry.