Andriy Yarmolenko, the winger for Kyiv’s Dynamo, has taken another step in his legendary career by breaking the 120-goal mark in the Ukrainian Premier League. The two goals he scored in the dramatic 25th-round match against Kryvbas, which ended in an incredible 6-5 scoreline, have reduced the player’s deficit behind the competition’s all-time top scorer, Maksym Shatskikh, to just three goals.
This clash between Kryvbas and Dynamo was a real spectacle for the fans, as the teams set a new scoring record in UPL history, netting a combined 11 goals.
Yarmolenko scored his historic 120th goal in the 76th minute, equalising after a pass from Vitaliy Buyalskyi. Then, in the 87th minute, following a pass from Mykola Shaparenko, Andriy struck the opponent’s goal with a spectacular backheel, netting his 121st goal. This goal was not only the winner for Dynamo in the match, but also another significant step towards the all-time record.
UPL records – Yarmolenko breaks into the top ranks
Thanks to his brace in this match, Yarmolenko has joined the ranks of the three players who have surpassed the 120-goal mark in the history of the Ukrainian Premier League.
Top scorers in the history of the Ukrainian Premier League: top 5
1. Maksym Shatskikh — 124 goals
2. Serhiy Rebrov — 123 goals
3. Andriy Yarmolenko — 121 goals
4. Yevhen Seleznyov — 117 goals
5. Andriy Vorobey — 105 goals
To match Shatsykh’s tally, Yarmolenko needs to score three more goals, and four more strikes would be enough to take sole possession of the top spot in the all-time charts. With five matches remaining until the end of the season, Andriy’s chances of breaking the record look entirely realistic.
It is worth noting that Kryvbas has already become the second-most frequent victim of the winger’s accurate strikes: he has scored 10 goals against them, trailing only Odessa’s Chornomorets (15 goals) in this regard.
In the next round, Dynamo will face their main rivals, Shakhtar Donetsk. The Ukrainian ‘classic’ derby will take place on Sunday, 3 May, at 18:00 Kyiv time. This match promises to be one of the key fixtures in the title race and, perhaps, another step towards Yarmolenko’s historic achievement.
In 2023, Dynamo’s most experienced player returned to his home club. Dynamo president Ihor Surkis described this as an opportunity for the coaching staff to turn the team’s fortunes around and deliver results.
