Vladyslav Kabaiev criticized his team's lack of aggression after "Dynamo Kyiv" lost 0-1 to Paphos FC in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round. The Ukrainian winger came off the bench in the 66th minute but couldn't help his side avoid defeat at their temporary home stadium in Lublin, Poland.
"We might not have started as we wanted. But we need to understand we're playing against qualified footballers, not some amateur team," Kabaiev said after the match. "We had chances and half-chances, but obviously we needed a goal."
The decisive moment came in the 84th minute when the Cypriot side scored on a quick counterattack following a Dynamo set piece. For Kabaiev, the difference was clear - Paphos showed more grit and determination throughout the contest.
Dynamo's performance lacked the necessary edge, according to the 28-year-old winger. "We need to work more on our emotions, be craftier, more unpleasant for opponents," he explained. "Their nastiness played to their advantage and to our disadvantage."
Despite the setback, Kabaiev remains optimistic about the return leg in Cyprus next Tuesday, August 12. The scoreline is manageable, and he believes the team can turn things around.
"We're athletes, and we enter every game with the task of winning. The score is only 0-1, nothing terrible here. We had many chances, we could have scored," he added.
When asked about the potential impact of Cyprus's hot weather in the second leg, Kabaiev dismissed external factors as excuses. "We play on a green field, and the ball is round. Maybe the heat will play some role, maybe not. We need to look at ourselves rather than external factors."
The winner of this tie will face either Lech Poznan or Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League playoffs. The loser drops to the Europa League, where they'll meet either Hamrun Spartans or Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Can "Dynamo" find the fire they lacked in the first leg? They'll need it if they want to keep their Champions League dreams alive.
