Polessya vs FC Copenhagen

The match exploded into life inside four minutes. FC Copenhagen's Brazilian forward Robert pounced on a through ball from Mads Emil Madsen and slotted past Heorhiy Bushchan to give the Danish side the lead.

Polessya responded immediately. Just two minutes later, Oleksandr Nazarenko crossed from the right and Ihor Krasnopir converted at the near post to level the scores at 1-1.

The Ukrainian side took control as the half wore on. In the 36th minute, Oleksandr Andrievskyi played in Oleh Fedor, who finished coolly to make it 2-1. Polessya went into the break with a deserved lead, having created the better chances.

Copenhagen came out stronger after half-time. Robert struck again in the 55th minute, this time meeting a Mohamed Elyounoussi cross to restore parity at 2-2. The Brazilian's brace made him the pivotal figure in Copenhagen's attacking play.

The visitors pushed for a winner and thought they had secured it when Madsen tapped home from Andreas Cornelius's knockdown in the 83rd minute, making it 3-2 to Copenhagen.

But Polessya refused to fold. With two minutes of normal time remaining, substitute Oleksandr Filippov — who had entered the fray at the 70-minute mark — pounced on a delivery from fellow substitute Volodymyr Veleten to slot home and make it 3-3.

Copenhagen's decision to introduce Andreas Cornelius at the 80-minute mark, replacing the tiring Robert, paid immediate dividends. Cornelius won the aerial duel that led to Madsen's 83rd-minute goal, putting the visitors ahead. But Polessya's response — equalising within five minutes through another substitute — meant the momentum swung again. The sequence of three substitutions producing two goals in five minutes (80'–88') defined the chaotic closing stages.

• Robert (FC Copenhagen) — The Brazilian forward scored twice (4', 55'), taking his chances with clinical precision. His first was a composed finish after a clever run; his second a well-timed header from Elyounoussi's cross. Subbed off at 80' with his work done.

• Oleh Fedor (Polessya) — Scored the 36th-minute go-ahead goal and was a constant threat before being substituted at 70'. His yellow card (59') for a trip was the only blemish on an energetic display.

• Oleksandr Filippov (Polessya) — The 88th-minute substitute scored the crucial equaliser, demonstrating the depth in Ruslan Rotan's squad. His intervention keeps the tie alive.

• Mads Emil Madsen (FC Copenhagen) — One goal (83') and one assist (4') from midfield. His delivery for Robert's opener and his finish from Cornelius's knockdown showed his two-way influence.

Player of the match: Robert (FC Copenhagen) — two goals in a high-stakes European qualifier.

Polessya registered 20 shots (7 on target) to Copenhagen's 10 (6 on target), a disparity that reflects the Ukrainian side's territorial dominance after the equaliser and particularly in the first half. The 50-50 possession split (per Betmana data) suggests the match was genuinely contested in midfield, but Polessya's willingness to shoot from distance and commit numbers forward inflated their shot count. Copenhagen's superior conversion rate (3 goals from 10 shots) tells a story of efficiency on the counter-attack.

The 3-3 draw leaves the tie wide open heading into the second leg at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen on 30 July 2026. Copenhagen will be favourites on home soil, but Polessya's ability to score three away goals — even on a neutral venue in Košice — gives Ruslan Rotan's side a genuine chance. The winner of the tie will face either Paide Linnameeskond (Estonia) or FK Zira (Azerbaijan) in the third qualifying round.

For Copenhagen, this was their first competitive match of the 2026/27 season. Their pre-season form included a 5-3 win over Mjällby (27 June) in which Youssoufa Moukoko scored a hat-trick. Polessya, who finished third in the Ukrainian Premier League with 59 points in 2025/26, have now played their first competitive fixture of the new campaign.

A chaotic, open first leg that neither side deserved to lose. Polessya's willingness to take the game to Copenhagen, even after falling behind twice, suggests they will not settle for a defensive approach in the return. Copenhagen's clinical finishing on the counter-attack, however, means they will be confident of finishing the job at Parken. The tie is perfectly balanced — and the 3-3 scoreline ensures the second leg will carry significant tension.

Second leg: FC Copenhagen vs Polessya — 30 July 2026, Parken Stadium, Copenhagen. Winner faces Paide Linnameeskond (EST) or FK Zira (AZE) in the third qualifying round.