Maxymov analyzed the 5th round of the UPL, highlighting Krasnopir's brace, Dynamo's bad luck, and Yarmolenko

Yuriy Maksymov summed up the fifth round of the UPL in an exclusive interview with "UF", naming the best player and team.

On Sunday, September 6, the passions of the fifth round of the Ukrainian Premier League season 2026/27 subsided, which ended with a "dry" draw in Kamianets-Podilskyi between the local Epicenter and Chernivtsi Bukovyna (0:0).

Journalist of the website "Ukrainian Football" Viktor Hlukhenkyi, following the tradition of our publication, summed up the battles on the domestic fields together with the authoritative expert, this time being the former head coach of Dnipro-1, Vorskla, Krivbas, and several other clubs Yuriy Maksymov.

"Shakhtar defeated Karpaty with skill. 'Miners' played their football."

– Yuriy Volodymyrovych, the round started and ended with "zeros", but overall, in my opinion, it was interesting. Did you like the showdowns on Ukrainian fields in the fifth round?

– I would like to see more goals scored. Of course, we all understand the times we live in, that there is a war in the country and it affects the psyche and thoughts not at all about football, but... For the viewers, I repeat, I would like to see more goals, but overall, the round seemed good.

– Have the teams warmed up or are they still getting into gear?

– It's almost time to finish the championship 😀 Warmed up, warmed up.

"Shakhtar defeated Karpaty with skill."

– What do you think about the central match of the round between Karpaty and Shakhtar, did it live up to its status?

– I was interested to see in this game whether Karpaty had risen so high in the standings at the beginning of the championship by chance. I didn't get the answers. If Lviv had won, it would have been clear that there was something in this team, but... It's hard to say for sure whether the 'lions' will have enough winning momentum for a long time. We'll see. The championship is long, there are many rounds ahead.

Shakhtar didn't create many chances, but they scored two goals, and that was enough for victory. Shakhtar defeated Karpaty with skill. 'Miners' played their football, held onto the ball for a long time, and at the right moment, the skill of their players came into play, who decided the episodes - that's all.

"If someone stands out in the round, it's Krasnopir from Polissya. Came on as a substitute, scored a brace. Deserved."

– Which match in the round would you call the best?

– Karpaty - Shakhtar. It fully justified its status as central: there were enough goals, a battle on the field, and intrigue.

– Which match was frankly disappointing and boring to watch?

– Usually, any game that ends with a score of 0:0 can be called boring, and in the fifth round, there were three of them [Chornomorets - Livyi Bereh, Dynamo - LNZ, and Epicenter - Bukovyna].

– In which match of the round was the main sensation?

– I don't even know... Overall, the round passed without sensations, in my opinion.

– Who deserves to be named the best player of the fifth round?

– You know, I would single out someone at the end of the championship, name the best, but based on the results of one round, I don't even know... However, if we need to highlight someone specifically in this round, let it be Krasnopir from Polissya. Came on as a substitute, scored a brace. Deserved.

"Yarmolenko finally needs to score that goal to make it easier psychologically"

– Dynamo again missed out on three points, drawing a goalless draw with LNZ. All in all, are the Kyivans unlucky or is it as if they are cursed, as Ivan Hetsko suggested?

– Dynamo played as the first number, and LNZ in their usual style - on counterattacks, but the Cherkasy team currently lacks fast players. Kyivans were supposed to win, but... Somewhere it didn't work out, Ponomarenko's goal was disallowed. Matviy played very well. I like such forwards as him. Persistent, fights, clears, strikes, constantly aiming at the goal.

It's a shame that Yarmolenko didn't score, although he had an excellent chance, but he didn't convert it, the ball rolled treacherously under his right foot... How many goals does he have left to Shatskikh's record?

– One goal to equal Maxym Shatskikh's record, two to surpass it.

– Yarmolenko finally needs to score that goal to make it easier psychologically. And then - let him decide: to play or not. Something is not working out for Yarmolenko... He even hit the crossbar against Bukovyna, didn't score.

"Bushchan was given a chance at Polissya at the beginning of this championship, but he made many mistakes"

– Recently, Georgiy Bushchan returned to Dynamo. Will he be able to plug the hole at the last line of the Kyiv team?

– He didn't play for a long time. Bushchan was given a chance at Polissya at the beginning of this championship, but he made many mistakes, and Georgiy was benched again, replaced by Kudryk. And soon Volynets will recover from injury. I think with such scenarios, Bushchan wouldn't have a chance to play in the starting lineup at Polissya. So it's good for him that he returned to Dynamo - he will have full game practice.

– For over a month, they have been discussing the fate of Dynamo coach Ihor Kostiuk every day. Considering the results, it seems that the 'blue and whites' will not get out of the tough spot. What do you think, will Kostiuk work in Kyiv at least until the winter break?

– The most important thing is for Dynamo to have a strong team. If Kostiuk's team supports him, it means he is doing everything right, and let him continue to work. In my opinion, Kostiuk should work with the team not until the winter break, but until the end of the season. After that, let the management decide who entrusted him with the team.

Results of the 5th round matches of the UPL

September 4. Chornomorets - Livyi Bereh 0:0

September 4. Polissya - Kudrivka 5:1

September 5. Kryvbas - Kolos 2:2

September 5. Kharkiv - Obolon 5:0

September 5. Karpaty - Shakhtar 1:2

September 6. Dynamo - LNZ 0:0

September 6. Veres - Zorya 1:1

September 6. Epicenter - Bukovyna 0:0

UPL standings after the 5th round