Missing Trip #8 - Part 2 - Ukraine March 2019 Arsenal Kyiv 2 Vorskla Poltava 2

 The day after the Olimpik V Dynamo game I was back at the Lobonovskiy Stadium to see Arsenal Kyiv take on Vorskla Poltava. Since I lived in Kyiv these teams have had vastly different fortunes with Vorskla playing in Europe and getting to a cup final after this game, whereas Arsenal as a professional adult's team ceased to exist at the end of that season.

The game itself was really entertaining and made even more so by the referee, who seemed to have had a drink at halftime, as his decision making in the second half was definitely suspect. 

Serhiy Vakulenko opened the scoring in the 9th minute for Arsenal with a goal that could not be contested. A well taken header with no controversy. Vyacheslav Sharpar equalised from the spot after a foul that was pretty much a 50/50 challenge. In the second half Sharpar put Vorskla 2-1 up with another penalty after a hand ball that was definitely more ball to hand. There was to be yet another penalty though and Vakulenko got his and Arsenal's second in the last minute with yet another penalty. This time the offence was given (I think) for a high boot, although the boot wasn't that high as the forward was ducking towards it and no contact was made. 

If that wasn't all enough controversy, the referee gave a winning goal to Vorskla, then decided against it, then asked for VAR (there was no VAR in the stadium) and then blew his whistle leaving the Vorskla contingent, who probably outnumbered the Arsenal fans, seething.

Great day out though and it's just a pity that not many people could make it with it being on a Monday afternoon. 





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