Another week was positive for Phoenix players: for the second time in a row, the team managed to get through to the final part of the Ukrainian Championship, which, just like the previous year, will be held in Kherson. Being on a tear, our guys played a match of the Kharkiv Open Championship against Avangard from Merefa.
Phoenix had never met with this opponent on the pitch, so the confrontation with the team from the Kharkiv region was expected with special interest. Literally an hour and a half before the start of the current match, Avangard had managed to warm up, losing to WFC Kharkiv City with a score of 2:4. From the very start of the match our guys made it clear to the opposition that Phoenix was after three competition points. The teams acted at high speeds, created dangerous moments, and already in the outset of the game, the first goal hit the net of the guests from Merefa. At this point, Artem Shevchenko took in the situation faster than the rest and kicked the ball into the opposition's goal.
Phoenix continued to dominate the site and soon doubled the lead. The game was taken over by Daniil Dudin, delivering an effective pass to Olexander Bezruk, who sent the ball into the far corner of the net. Meanwhile, the more physically strong and tall Avangard players were increasingly threatening the goal defended by Phoenix's goalie. However, Volodymyr Lazeba had been on a roll since the start of the match, helping his team out in difficult situations.
It is worth mentioning that the players of Merefa team often tresspassed on individual actions, trying to break through to the opponent’s goal. Ruslan Tymoshchuk took shooting positions twice, but failed to implement scoring chances. Phoenix, however, took full advantage of its own moment. Daniil Dudin rushed through the center to Avanrard's net and passed to Demid Yevsyukov, who scored the third team goal.
The final portion of the first half was productive with the ball ending up in the net as many as three times. The persistence of Phoenix's rivals led to two goals scored, to which our guys responded with a well-placed shot from Artem Shevchenko. Despite the messed up ending, the trainees of Serhii Hrytsenko and Yuri Vashchenko could put the first 20-minutes to their credit.
After the break, Avangard would stick to its pressing tactics. At the same time, goalkeeper Andrii Fursov would throw the ball to the opponent’s goal in hope of successful headwork of his teammates. In Phoenix Daniil Dudin was taking the lead. In the first half he rather acted as an assistant, whereas, in the second 20-minutes he got on the scoresheet by directing the ball to the goal with his special powerful shot.
In general, Phoenix players often broke the rules after the break. One of the free-kicks towards Volodymyr Laseba's goal hit the goal post, and our guys organized a quick counterattack. As a result, Daniil Khodatsky, not without the help of one of Avangard players, struck the ball with a finishing kick. In the remaining time, our guys confidently controlled the situation on the pitch, whereas the attacking zeal of the opposition withered away noticeably. So, when Artyom Shevchenko 'upset' Andrei Fursov for the third time, this did not really raise eyebrows. In this game Phoenix outclassed the opposition. The eventual success with a score of 7:2 took our guys to 4th position in the standings (21 points after 10 matches).
Last Sunday Phoenix-2 also opposed the team from the Kharkiv region, but failed to beat Kolos from Derhachi, losing 1:3.
Yuri Vashchenko (Phoenix’s coach):
- We set up the guys so that there was no underestimation of the opponent. We did not know the team and had never played with it. It was Phoenix who set the tone for the game, though the guys were being skimp and screw. It is hard to comment on the heels of the match.
- Did the opposition spring any surprises?
- I would not say so. Now all the teams are looking up to Phoenix, striving to show maximum of their potential. Many thanks to our guys for the victory!
- Is access to the playoffs being the most pressing of Phoenix's tasks now?
- It is certainly so. We set supreme goals for every tournament. It is a challenge, though, to deal with the teams composed of players born in 2004 and 2005. Anyways, we will keep on fighting and, with God's help, we will make it.