In previous tournament matches, the White and Blues had suffered defeats to Lazio (0:3), Hoffenheim (0:2), Roma (0:1), Ferencváros (0:4), Viktoria Plzeň (1:2),Real Sociedad (0:3), and drew with Galatasaray (3:3).

Dynamo immediately took control of possession, and in the 21st minute, Vanat beat the goalkeeper but did so from an offside position. Moments later, Ikaunieks tested Neshcheret with a header. However, clear-cut chances were scarce for a long period. Just before halftime, Vanat missed from a promising position.

Early in the second half, Kwadio nearly sent the ball into Dynamo’s net from a corner. The Ukrainian side responded with Kabaiev’s shot over the crossbar, followed by Pikhalyonok testing the keeper from a set piece. Later, Neshcheret had to react to a free kick by Savalnieks.

In the 76th minute, Dynamo finally broke the deadlock. After a series of ricochets inside the penalty area, the ball fell to Pikhalyonok, who made no mistake. The goal secured Dynamo’s first victory in the main round, finishing 34th in the standings.

Ukrainian national team player Vladyslav Vanat played the full match for Dynamo.

UEFA Europa League 2024/2025. League Phase

Dynamo Kyiv (Ukraine) – RFS (Latvia) – 1:0 (0:0)

Goal: Pikhalyonok (76)

Dynamo: Neshcheret, Tymchyk, Bilovar, Mykhavko, Vivcharenko, Pikhalyonok, Mykhailenko, Rubchynskyi (Salenko, 88), Yarmolenko (c) (Voloshyn, 90), Vanat, Kabaiev (Ponomarenko, 86).

Substitutes: Surkis, Ihnatenko, Dyachuk, Zakharchenko, Guerrero, Bragaru.

Head coach: Oleksandr Shovkovskyi.

RFS: Ondoa, Ndjie (Mareš, 80), Prenga, Lipušček (c), Savalnieks (Silagadze, 85), Markhiev, Panich, Odisharia, Ikaunieks, Ndjiki (Kwadio, 46), Zeļenkovs (Lemajič, 80).

Substitutes: Šteinbors, Vilkovs, Stuglis.

Head coach: Viktor Moroz.

Referee: Orel Grinfeld (Israel).

Booked: Bilovar (20), Ponomarenko (90+1) – Panich (39), Prenga (90+1).

January 30. Hamburg. Volksparkstadion.

Standings

September 25, 2024

Dynamo — Lazio — 0:3

October 3, 2024

Hoffenheim — Dynamo — 2:0

October 24, 2024

Roma — Dynamo — 1:0

November 7, 2024

Dynamo — Ferencvaros — 0:3

November 28, 2024

Dynamo — Viktoria — 1:2

December 12, 2024

Real Sociedad — Dynamo — 3:0

January 21, 2025

Galatasaray — Dynamo — 3:3

January 30, 2025

Dynamo — RFS — 1:0