Páfos vs Dinamo Kyiv: Resumen

Pafos FC secured a commanding 2-0 victory over FK Dynamo Kyiv in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League qualifying third round tie at the Alphamega Stadium on August 12, 2025. The Cypriot side's impressive performance, headlined by early and second-half goals, sealed a convincing 3-0 aggregate win that propels them into the next qualifying round of Europe's premier club competition.

The atmosphere at Alphamega Stadium was electric as local fans packed the venue to witness what many are calling a historic night for Cypriot football. Under the warm Mediterranean evening sky, Pafos FC demonstrated their growing European credentials with a tactically astute display against the Ukrainian giants.

Mislav Orsic set the tone with a stunning strike in just the second minute, immediately putting the visitors under pressure. Dynamo Kyiv, coached by Oleksandr Shovkovskyi, struggled to find rhythm throughout the match despite their recent good away form. João Correia's 55th-minute goal effectively ended the contest, with Pafos maintaining defensive discipline to preserve their clean sheet.

This result represents a significant milestone for Cypriot football in European competition, with Pafos FC now advancing deeper into the Champions League qualifying rounds. For Dynamo Kyiv, the defeat marks a disappointing exit as they failed to score across both legs despite their typically strong attacking reputation in Ukrainian football.

Juan Carlos Carcedo's tactical approach proved superior over both legs, with his side showing remarkable efficiency in attack while maintaining defensive solidity against their more established opponents.

"This is a landmark moment for our club and Cypriot football. To defeat a club with Dynamo Kyiv's European pedigree over two legs, without conceding, shows the progress we are making. The early goal from Orsic was exactly what we planned for, and the team executed our tactical approach perfectly," said Juan Carlos Carcedo, Pafos FC head coach.

"We face difficult moments in football sometimes. Our performance lacked the intensity and creativity needed at this level of European competition. We must analyze our mistakes and improve quickly. Credit to Pafos who were clinical and well-organized over both matches," commented Oleksandr Shovkovskyi, Dynamo Kyiv's coach.

"Scoring early helped settle our nerves and allowed us to control the match. The atmosphere was incredible tonight – the fans carried us through some difficult moments. This is just the beginning of our Champions League journey," remarked Mislav Orsic, Pafos FC's goalscorer.

"Pafos deserves enormous credit for this result. They've shown tactical discipline and clinical finishing that many didn't expect. For Dynamo, this is a wake-up call about the increasing quality across European football – there are no easy games at this level anymore," observed Andriy Shevchenko, former Dynamo Kyiv striker and football analyst.

Possession: Pafos FC 43% - 57% FK Dynamo Kyiv

Despite having less of the ball, Pafos FC demonstrated remarkable efficiency with their possession, creating higher quality chances throughout the match. Dynamo's possession advantage failed to translate into meaningful opportunities.

Shots (On Target): Pafos FC 9 (5) - 12 (3) FK Dynamo Kyiv

The home side's clinical finishing proved decisive. While Dynamo generated more shooting opportunities, their accuracy was lacking with just 25% of attempts finding the target compared to Pafos's 55%.

Corners: Pafos FC 4 - 8 FK Dynamo Kyiv

Dynamo's higher corner count reflected their territorial pressure, particularly in the second half, but Pafos defended these situations resolutely.

Cards: Pafos FC 1 Yellow - 0 FK Dynamo Kyiv

A relatively clean match with just one caution issued to Domingos Quina of Pafos in stoppage time.

Individual Performances:

Mislav Orsic (Pafos FC): 1 goal, 3 shots on target, 2 key passes João Correia (Pafos FC): 1 goal, 2 shots on target, 4 successful dribbles Neophytos Michael (Pafos FC): 3 saves, 100% claim success on crosses Andrii Yarmolenko (Dynamo Kyiv): 4 shots (1 on target), 3 key passes Mykola Shaparenko (Dynamo Kyiv): 91% pass completion, 3 chances created

Pafos FC's defensive unit, led by David Goldar and Derrick Luckassen, completed 18 clearances and 7 blocks collectively, demonstrating their solidity against Dynamo's attacking threats.

2' [GOAL] - Pafos FC 1-0 Dynamo Kyiv A lightning start for the home side as Mislav Orsic received a precise through ball from Bruno Souza, cut inside from the left wing and unleashed a powerful curling shot into the top corner. Dynamo goalkeeper Ruslan Neshcheret had no chance as the ball nestled perfectly in the far corner.

24' [CHANCE] - Dynamo Kyiv Andrii Yarmolenko created space on the right flank and delivered a dangerous cross that found Vladyslav Vanat unmarked in the box, but the striker's header sailed narrowly over the crossbar in Dynamo's best opportunity of the first half.

42' [SAVE] - Pafos FC A crucial intervention from Pafos goalkeeper Neophytos Michael, who reacted brilliantly to palm away Mykola Shaparenko's long-range effort that was heading for the bottom corner.

55' [GOAL] - Pafos FC 2-0 Dynamo Kyiv João Correia doubled the home side's advantage with a clinical finish. After a swift counter-attack, Muamer Tankovic delivered a perfectly weighted pass that split Dynamo's defense, allowing Correia to slot calmly past Neshcheret into the bottom corner.

67' [TACTICAL CHANGE] - Dynamo Kyiv Coach Shovkovskyi shifted to a more attacking 3-4-3 formation, sacrificing a defender for an additional attacking option in a desperate attempt to salvage the tie.

78' [CHANCE] - Pafos FC Vlad Dragomir nearly added a third with a spectacular volley from the edge of the box that rattled the crossbar with Neshcheret beaten.

90+4' [YELLOW CARD] - Pafos FC Domingos Quina received the only booking of the match for a tactical foul that halted a potential Dynamo counter-attack in the dying moments.

The August 12 encounter marked just the second competitive meeting between Pafos FC and FK Dynamo Kyiv, with both matches occurring in this UEFA Champions League qualifying tie. Prior to these fixtures, the clubs had never met in European competition, making this triumph even more significant for the Cypriot side.

Across the two legs, Pafos FC demonstrated remarkable efficiency, securing a 3-0 aggregate victory without conceding a goal. The first leg in Kyiv saw Pafos secure a crucial 1-0 away win, which they built upon with this 2-0 home victory.

The head-to-head statistics reveal Pafos's clinical approach across both matches:

Goals: Pafos FC 3-0 FK Dynamo Kyiv Shots on Target: Pafos FC 9-6 FK Dynamo Kyiv Possession: Pafos FC 41%-59% FK Dynamo Kyiv

Key individual matchups proved decisive across both legs. Mislav Orsic's battle against Dynamo right-back Oleksandr Tymchyk was particularly influential, with the Croatian winger contributing directly to two of Pafos's three goals across the tie. In midfield, Ivan Šunjić effectively neutralized the creative threat of Mykola Shaparenko, limiting the Ukrainian international's influence.

Dynamo Kyiv's historical European pedigree, including appearances in Champions League group stages and a Cup Winners' Cup triumph in their history, stands in stark contrast to Pafos FC's relatively limited European experience. This result therefore represents a significant upset in the context of both clubs' European histories and could mark the beginning of a more prominent continental presence for the Cypriot side.