Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Polissya Zhytomyr beat Sabah FK 4-1 in a pre-season friendly in Zhytomyr on 2 July 2026. Leandro Andrade, O. Fedor, B. Krushynskyi and I. Krasnopir scored for the hosts.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Cape Verde international Leandro Andrade opened the scoring for Polissya in the 22nd minute, and Ukrainian midfielder O. Fedor doubled the advantage before the break with a strike in the 37th minute. The hosts carried a commanding 2-0 lead into half-time.
Sabah briefly threatened a comeback when Serbian midfielder V. Simić pulled one back two minutes after the restart (48'). But any hopes of a turnaround were short-lived. Polissya restored their two-goal cushion through B. Krushynskyi on 58 minutes before I. Krasnopir added a fifth (and final) goal deep into stoppage time at 90', rounding off a comprehensive win.
The turning point
Sabah's early second-half response through Simić — scored within three minutes of the restart — could have shifted momentum in a tighter contest. Polissya's reply through Krushynskyi just ten minutes later, however, snuffed out any Azerbaijani ambition and restored the Ukrainian side's control.
Key performers
Leandro Andrade (Polessya) — The Cape Verde attacker scored the opener and looked sharp in his pre-season run-out. A constant threat drifting in from wide areas.
O. Fedor (Polessya) — Added a well-taken second goal just before half-time, giving his side breathing room at the interval.
B. Krushynskyi (Polessya) — His 58th-minute strike killed the game as a contest, coming at the precise moment Sabah sensed a route back.
Aden McCarthy (Sabah FK) — The South African defender earned minutes off the bench for Sabah in a match that offered valuable fitness work for the new campaign. (Source: Facebook team updates)
By the numbers
Polissya scored four goals from an unconfirmed shot count in a free-flowing friendly, while Sabah managed just the one — Simić's early second-half effort. The 2-0 half-time scoreline suggests the Ukrainian side's dominance was established early and never seriously challenged beyond the brief moment after the restart. No cards were recorded in a clean, pre-season contest.
What it means
This was a standard pre-season fixture for both clubs, with fitness and minutes the priority over results. Polissya, preparing for the upcoming Ukrainian Premier League season, will take confidence from a multi-goal performance. Sabah FK, who have European qualification ambitions in Azerbaijan, will view this as a useful workout with lessons in defensive concentration. Both sides continue their pre-season programmes with further friendlies scheduled.
Verdict
A controlled performance from Polissya who were superior throughout. Sabah showed a brief spark after half-time but lacked the defensive solidity to keep the scoreline respectable. Useful preparation for both but the gulf in sharpness was clear.
Match Events
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 4 Jul 2026