The first leg of the second qualifying round for the Soccer Champions League between Dynamo Kyiv and Fenerbahce Istanbul ended 0-0 in Lodz on Wednesday.
The return match will take place in Turkey in a week, the promoted team will meet Sturm Graz on August 2nd or 3rd at home and on August 9th away. The winner of this duel is in the play-off, the loser in the Europa League group stage. Sports director Andreas Schicker sat in the stadium in Lodz as a storm “spy”.
For Dynamo Kyiv it was the first competitive game since the beginning of the war. After the league was canceled due to the Russian war of aggression, the Ukrainian record champions kept fit with test and benefit games. Wrapped in their national flag, the Dynamo professionals stood and sang the national anthem before kick-off. Of course they would support the soldiers at home, said Kiev defender Oleksandr Syrota before the game. “We hope we win for them.”
In the well-filled stands in Lodz, the Ukrainian fans cheered despite the soccer zero number. For example, a woman held up a sign saying “Thanks Turkey for the Bayraktars”. Ukraine uses Turkish Bayraktar drones in the fight once morest Russian attackers.
(APA) / Image: Imago