Phoenix players were getting ready to the next game against DYSSh-5 with special inspiration. Previous weekend the boys were triumphant at ‘Futsal Fair’ that took place in Lutsk. The team of Serhii Hrytsenko and Yurii Vashchenko managed to celebrate a debut success in the age category U15.
But this was not the only good news from Phoenix camp. Even before the game in question started Yurii Vashchenko, the coach of the team, took congratulations related to the birth of his daughter – Alexandra. The boys dedicated their victory in this game to their coach and his daughter and did all they could to make this game memorable not only for its result but also for its quality.
Statistics of opponents games is quite positive for our team as Phoenix gained 5 victories in the previous six games and lost only once with the score 1:2 on August 25, 2018. However, since this defeat occurred in the Kharkiv Cup, it means that statistics of head-to-head games in this tournament was in favor of the team headed by Dmytro Holub.
Maksym Dolhulia scored more than others (4 goals) into the net of DYSSh-5 in the previous games. And now he was true to his tradition by opening the score in the reported game. Moreover, Maksym managed an excellent long-range shot, and DYSSh-5 goalkeeper could not clear this powerful shot of the top scorer. The boys found Yurii Vashchenko who was standing behind the face line and celebrated the goal that was scored by imaginable lulling of a baby.
However, Phoenix players could not build on the progress as they did in a number of preceding games. To top it off the opponents soon managed to restore the draw. If in the first case at the start of the game the ball hit the post after the shot struck by Kostyantyn Ovsyannikov, one more free kick led to the goal scored into the net of Eldar Bratchuk. Again the captain of DYSSh-5 took a powerful shot, and Timur Havrilenko only corrected the ball in its flight a little bit and it hit the net. The boys did not manage to penetrate the opponents’ defense once again till the half-time whistle.
The team of Serhii Hrytsenko and Yurii Vashchenko started playing the second 20-minutes half at high speed, and soon it became noticeable that their opponents were simply not fast enough to follow the quick movements of Phoenix players. Besides, without any significant reinforcement from the bench, DYSSh-5 players conducted counterattacking actions more and more seldom. In their turn our boys were building up their advantage. In the second half the most prominent figure was Artem Shevchenko who scored a ‘hat trick’ following the results of the match. The first two goals he scored were almost exact copies. Olexandr Bezruk provided two assists, and Artem sent the ball into the net with billiard-precise shots from the semicircle of the goal box.
Phoenix opponents, however, were not going to surrender and threatened the net of Volodymyr Lazeba from time to time. The goalkeeper saved his teammates several times, but he could not manage to clear the long-range shot of Dmytro Samsonov. Let’s remark that the ball hit the net by touching Kyrylo Horbatenko on its way. However, right during the next attack Kyrylo had sent a long ball to the far post, and Demyd Yevsiukov took a header and sent the ball directly into the target.
During the concluding section of the game Phoenix players were prevailing. After marvelous combinations they managed to score twice. After the corner kick-off the teammates took Daniil Dudin to shooting position, but he managed to score only at his second attempt. And at the last minute of the game Artem Shevchenko had the courage to take a long-range shot and scored the sixth goal for his team.
After the final whistle the team reminded who this game was dedicated to by chanting together "Alexandra! Alexandra!"
Summarizing the game we will say that this victory made it possible for Phoenix to score 25 points and to get through to the play-off ahead of time. In this round our boys will compete with Sokil, the same as in the concluding game of the group stage.
Serhii Hrytsenko (Phoenix coach):
- I would give a ‘four’ to our team for today’s game using a five-score system. A number of things were done well, however, a lot remained unaccomplished of what we had been planned. The boys were trying hard, they wanted to congratulate their coach on the birth of his daughter. I join these congratulations. Perhaps, we have not managed to score a lot of goals because the boys were too emotional.
- What do you make of the game of the opposition – the team of DYSSh-5?
- It’s a good team, they have offered quite a battle, and still, we were faster.
- Phoenix has a game against Sokil ahead of it. What do you expect of this game?
- This will be a six-point game, and we will fight for the victory.