Dynamo Kyiv vs PAOK

Dynamo struck with their first meaningful attack. Vladyslav Dubinchak combined with Eduardo Guerrero on the left and delivered a low cross to the edge of the penalty area. Brazhko controlled with one touch, set himself with the second and rifled into the net to make it 1-0 after four minutes.

PAOK's response was swift. Andriy Živković slipped a pass through to Konstantelias, who finished neatly to level in the 13th minute. The equaliser came just moments after an early injury-forced substitution, with Taison replacing T. Ali.

Dynamo could not reassert control. Christos Zafeiris put PAOK ahead in the 38th minute with an unassisted strike, and the visitors carried a 2-1 lead into half-time.

Baptiste Santamaria extended the advantage six minutes after the restart, converting from Taison's assist to make it 3-1. Dynamo head coach Ihor Kostiuk responded with a double substitution on 55 minutes, introducing Justin Lonwijk and Bohdan Redushko, and later sending on veterans Andriy Yarmolenko and Vitaliy Buyalskyi.

The changes paid off in the 78th minute. Yarmolenko provided the assist and Lonwijk finished to reduce the deficit to 3-2. Dynamo pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages — Matviy Ponomarenko had two clear chances but could not convert — and PAOK held on.

PAOK's second goal, scored by Zafeiris just seven minutes before half-time, was the decisive moment. Dynamo had steadied after Konstantelias's equaliser and were growing into the game when Zafeiris struck, forcing the Ukrainians to chase the match from a deficit they never fully recovered. Kostiuk admitted afterwards: "Those mistakes affected the team psychologically."

Giannis Konstantelias (PAOK) — Scored the equaliser and was a persistent threat in the final third. His movement between the lines caused Dynamo's defence problems throughout the first half. Picked up a yellow card in the 63rd minute for a tactical foul.

Christos Zafeiris (PAOK) — Put PAOK ahead with a well-taken goal just before the break and was a composed presence in midfield before being substituted on 77 minutes.

Justin Lonwijk (Dynamo Kyiv) — Introduced at half-time, scored the goal that reignited Dynamo's hopes and gave the tie a different complexion. "I want to help the team," he told Football Hub. "I'm back and ready for the head coach to use me."

Volodymyr Brazhko (Dynamo Kyiv) — Opened the scoring with a clinical finish in the fourth minute and was influential in possession before being substituted late on.

Player of the match: Giannis Konstantelias (PAOK)

PAOK posted 58% possession and registered 7 shots on target from 10 attempts, compared to Dynamo's 5 from 11, according to ESPN data. The visitors' shot conversion rate (50%) reflects the ruthlessness Kostiuk identified in his post-match assessment: "Teams of this level punish you for your mistakes." Dynamo dominated territory after the hour mark but managed only one goal from sustained pressure — a solitary Lonwijk strike from multiple chances, including two missed by Ponomarenko.

PAOK take a one-goal lead into the second leg at the Toumba Stadium in Thessaloniki on 30 July 2026. For Dynamo, the away goal keeps the tie alive. Kostiuk was measured in his outlook: "After the break we got back into the game, controlled possession and created chances. I believe we still have every chance."

Dynamo had beaten Universitatea Cluj in the first qualifying round; this was PAOK's first competitive match under new Italian head coach Alessio Lishi. The winner of the tie advances to the third qualifying round.

PAOK's experience told in the decisive moments — they punished defensive lapses with clinical finishing and managed the game shrewdly after going 3-1 up. Dynamo's second-half response suggests the tie is far from over, but they will need to cut out the individual errors that cost them three goals in Lublin. The second leg is finely balanced, with the away goal giving PAOK a clear but not definitive edge.

Match played at Arena Lublin, Poland (neutral venue) on 23 July 2026. Dynamo Kyiv play European home matches in Poland due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.