Preview

May 23, Lviv, Rukh TC, 13:00

Match build-up

With one round remaining in the season, the Miners have secured silver medals in the Youth League. The Orange-and-Blacks earned 76 points in 29 matches and sit second in the table (24 wins, 4 draws, 1 loss; goal difference: 83-19). In their previous games, the Pitmen defeated Inhulets U19 (2-1), Zorya U19 (2–1) and Chornomorets U19 (6-1). Shakhtar U19’s unbeaten away run has been ongoing since mid-April last year and now stands at 18 matches.

Dmytro Strilchuk, defender:

– We expect a quality play from both ourselves and our opponents. We know that Rukh U19 are persistent and tough opponents who will try to press and do everything they can to break our game. However, every match is important regardless of the league standings, so we’ll be focused only on winning.

Opponents

The Yellow-and-Blacks approach the clash with Shakhtar U19 with 44 points and sit 7th in the league table (12 wins, 8 draws, 9 defeats; goal difference: 48-40). The Lviv outfit made a strong start to the second half of the season, winning 5 of their first 7 matches of the year. However, as the campaign nears its end, Denys Kolchin’s side lost their stability: they tied with Livyi Bereh U19 (1-1) and Kryvbas U19 (3-3), and suffered a defeat to Veres U19 in recent rounds.

Match background

The teams met 8 times at the U19 Championship: 5 wins of the Miners, 2 draws and 1 victory of the Lviv outfit.

Previous meeting

On 1 December 2024, Shakhtar U19 hosted Rukh in Shchaslyve. The Miners seized the initiative from the start and created several dangerous chances. Rukh, on the other hand, sat deeper, played on the counter and opened the scoring: Dorosh used the goalkeeper’s mistake and slotted the ball into the corner. After conceding, the Pitmen increased the tempo and turned the game around before the break: first, Tiutiunov finished off a move involving Tsukanov and Drozd, then Lomaha doubled the lead from close range. In the second half, Shakhtar controlled the match, keeping possession mostly in the opposing half. Near the end, Zubrii sealed the win by converting a low cross from the flank. As a result, Shakhtar U19 claimed a confident 3-1 victory over Rukh U19.