Yuriy Hura analyzed the 3rd round of the UPL, praising Karpaty and criticizing Bushchan

Famous coach Yuri Hura summed up the third round of the UPL in an exclusive interview with "UF," naming the best player and anti-hero.

On Monday, August 17, passions subsided after the third round of the Ukrainian Premier League season 2026/27. Therefore, the journalist of the "Ukrainian Football" Victor Glukhenky traditionally summed up the battles on the domestic fields with the authoritative expert, this time being the former head coach of Olexandriya and Moldovan Sheriff from Tiraspol, Yuri Hura.

"The FC Kharkiv - Shakhtar match was remembered not for the mass pushing"

– Yuri Volodymyrovych, the third round of the new season has already ended. The teams should have warmed up by now, but, in my opinion, they are still settling in, as they say. What are your impressions after the battles of the third round?

– Almost all matches were interesting over the weekend, and the final game between Polissya and Zorya was the highlight of the round. The Lugansk team showed character and turned the game upside down, which they seemed to be losing.

And well... Shakhtar is in their element, so to speak. They took three points, although I really liked FC Kharkiv. They played against the reigning champion at the same level.

– Regarding the match between Mladen Bartulovich's and Arda Turan's teams: did it live up to the status of the central match of the round?

– The FC Kharkiv - Shakhtar match was remembered not for the mass pushing at the end of the game, and well... The match itself was not particularly memorable. Of course, this is my personal, subjective opinion.

– There was also Oleg Ocheretko's "kung-fu," about which FC Kharkiv coach Mladen Bartulovich spoke after the game, but no penalty was awarded against Shakhtar's goal. Do you think the referee should have awarded a penalty kick?

– Well, the referees see better... If we are talking about any scandals of the round, they all revolved around the FC Kharkiv - Shakhtar match. The moment with Ocheretko's high foot and the post-match skirmishes between players and representatives of both teams' coaching staff. This definitely did not adorn the central match of the round.

"At the moment of the second conceded goal, I didn't understand Bushan... Just clear the ball"

– Which match in the third round deserves to be called the best if the "miners" and Kharkiv players did not delight with a bright spectacle?

– In my opinion, the game between Polissya and Zorya was very interesting. Few people bet on the Lugansk team before the match, and they showed character and snatched victory. They could have even brought the score to 3:1 in their favor towards the end of the match. Personally, I predicted a draw in Zhytomyr before the start, but I was wrong, as the players of both teams were on fire...

– If we talk about mistakes, perhaps the most notable was made by Polissya's goalkeeper Bushan. He practically "gifted" those goals to the opponent, especially the second one. Did he channel the spirit of Manuel Neuer, or was it just a loss of concentration?

– At the moment of the second conceded goal, I didn't understand him [Bushan]... Just clear the ball, don't play around near your penalty area, that's all.

– Which match is a contender for the title of the most boring in the round?

– I would say the match between Kudrivka and Obolon. There were moments - Shuliansky was supposed to score, but it all ended in a goalless draw.

– Where was the sensation of the round recorded?

– Zorya's victory over Polissya. Because, I repeat, few people bet on Viktor Skrypnyk's team before the game, being confident in that.

"At the start of the new season, I really like Karpaty's game"

– The best team after the third round of the UPL according to Yuri Hura.

– I highlight Karpaty. I really like the Lviv team's game at the start of the new season.

– Will their enthusiasm last long?

– In the next round, Karpaty will play against Livyi Bereh, and then the first real test of strength for the Lviv residents will be the game against Shakhtar. So, we will see what Ferndes' "lions" are worth.

– Who deserves the title of the best player of the third round of the UPL?

– My vote goes to forward Danilo Kravchuk from LNZ. He scored a goal and provided an assist, helping Vitaliy Ponomariov's team finally secure their first victory in the new championship.

Felipe Vieira from Karpaty also has a goal and an assist to his credit, but... I prefer to praise our own - Ukrainians.

– In that case, the main anti-hero of the round is Polissya's goalkeeper Georgiy Bushan due to his fatal mistake that led to the second goal?

– I agree with your opinion, but... I don't want to criticize, as he [Bushan] might start crying, but he let the team down. In both goals.

"Brazhko, Shaparenko, Ponomarenko - stars for the UPL level, but not European"

– Before the Dynamo - Kolos match, many insiders were already sending Igor Kostyuk into retirement, but Igor Surkis did not dismiss the coach. In your opinion, should he have done it now, considering the elimination from European competitions?

– It's easy to fire Kostyuk, but then what? Who will coach Dynamo instead of him? Will they bring someone from abroad? I don't think so. In my opinion, Kostyuk needs more time. And not everything depends on him, but much more on the players he currently has at his disposal.

Brazhko, Shaparenko, Ponomarenko - stars for the UPL level, but not European. They are still raw, and their prices have already been raised significantly.

Results of the matches of the 3rd round of the UPL

Epitsentr - Veres - 0:0

Kryvbas - Livyi Bereh - 1:1

Kudrivka - Obolon - 0:0

Karpaty - Bukovyna - 3:0

LNZ - Chornomorets - 2:0

FC Kharkiv - Shakhtar - 0:1

Dynamo - Kolos - 2:1

Polissya - Zorya - 1:2

UPL standings after the 3rd round

Top scorers of the UPL after the 3rd round