In Champions League playoff action, Ukraine's Dynamo Kyiv will take on Belgian side Gent on Tuesday in the second leg of their tie.
Hello @DynamoKyiv #dyngnt #UCL pic.twitter.com/shCYEGhHai
— KAA Gent (@KAAGent) September 28, 2020
In the first leg last Wednesday, Dynamo Kyiv scored two crucial away goals en route to a 2-1 victory. 20-year-old forward Vladyslav Supriaha needed just nine minutes to get Dynamo off the mark in Belgium with a tap-in from two yards out.
VAR checked and the goal stands.
Supryaha puts Dynamo Kyiv up 1-0. pic.twitter.com/RVKRE6xjRM— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) September 23, 2020
Shortly afterwards, Gent lost its own Ukrainian forward Roman Yaremchuk to injury. His replacement, Tim Kleindienst, a summer arrival from 2.Bundesliga side Heidenheim, provided an almost-instant impact for Gent, striking after 41 minutes to send the teams into halftime tied at 1.
Gent level!
The header by Kleindienst equalizes before the half and the home side are right back in it. pic.twitter.com/Yd1GMsGk46— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) September 23, 2020
The home side ran into trouble shortly after the break as a result of Roman Bezus' 56th minute sending-off. The midfielder received two yellow cards in three minutes, forcing Gent to finish the game a man down. While the Belgians managed to hold on for a while, Carlos de Pena eventually put Dynamo ahead again in the 79th minute.
Wim De Decker's side was perhaps fortunate to lose by only one, having been heavily outshot in the second half after going down a man. Dynamo registered eight second-half efforts to Gent's one, including three shots inside the box.
Gent followed up the defeat with a 3-2 home loss in league play against OH Leuven, continuing its inconsistent form so far this season. After seven games, Gent sits in 15th place, three points off the relegation zone.
Dynamo, on the other hand, has continued the excellent form in which it finished the previous campaign with 10 points from four league games to put the side in first place. The capital side followed up its victory in Belgium with a 4-0 victory over FC Minaj.
With two away goals to overcome, struggling Gent has a small mountain to climb should it hope to advance at Dynamo's expense in this week's Champions League playoff. Mircea Lucescu's side has been ruthless in front of goal so far this season with 11 goals from its four league games.
Given current form and last week's result, the Ukrainian side has to be considered the favorite ahead of tomorrow's 3:00 p.m. EST kickoff.
