Brinje-Grosuplje vs Epitsentr Dunayivtsi

The own goal five minutes into the second half was the decisive moment. Having gone in 1-2 at the interval, Brinje would have hoped to start the second half strongly. Instead, the fortuitous third goal for Epitsentr — a deflection off a Brinje player — gave the Ukrainian side a two-goal cushion that proved insurmountable.

Kostyantyn Kovalets (Epitsentr) — the midfielder scored the crucial second goal for Epitsentr in the 43rd minute, putting his side ahead just before the break and shifting momentum decisively in the visitors' favour.

M. Yevpak (Brinje-Grosuplje) — the unfortunate Brinje player whose own goal early in the second half made it 1-3, effectively ending the home side's hopes of a comeback.

Player of the Match: Kostyantyn Kovalets — his well-timed strike just before half-time changed the complexion of the match.

As a pre-season friendly played behind closed doors or with minimal attendance at a small training-ground venue, detailed match statistics (possession, shots, xG) were not published by either club. The scoreline — 2-3 with a 1-2 half-time split — suggests an open game with both sides creating chances, typical of a pre-season fixture where fitness takes priority over defensive organisation. The fact that three of the five goals came inside a 12-minute window either side of the interval (43', 45', 50') points to a period of defensive looseness as both teams rotated personnel.

For Epitsentr Dunayivtsi, this was their final pre-season friendly in Slovenia before returning to Ukraine for the start of the 2026/27 Ukrainian Premier League season. Managed by Serhiy Nahornyak, the club finished 10th in the 2025/26 UPL campaign and will be aiming to improve on that standing. Their next competitive fixture is the opening round of the UPL season, scheduled for early August 2026.

For Brinje-Grosuplje, this was part of their pre-season build-up to the 2026/27 Slovenian Prva Liga season. They had previously beaten Radomlje 2-0 on 18 July 2026 and went on to face Maribor in a league match on 25 July 2026 (losing 3-0). The defeat to Epitsentr was a useful test against a team from a higher-profile league.

A productive pre-season workout for both sides. Epitsentr's quality showed through in key moments, with Kovalets' goal and the fortunate own goal providing the difference. Brinje will have learned from the test against a technically proficient Ukrainian side, even if the result went against them. Pre-season friendlies are ultimately about preparation, and both teams got what they needed from the 90 minutes at Terme Čatež.