The preparations continue: FC Mriya completes squad formation in a series of friendly matches

The first weeks of March were a busy time of friendly games for FC Mriya (Gostomel). The team is gradually completing its squad, carefully checking potential newcomers and polishing its tactics to be 100% ready for the second round of the Kyiv and Ukrainian championships. Below is a review of four matches that helped the Dreamers assess their level and identify areas for improvement.

7 March: FC Obolon U19 vs FC Mriya (Hostomel)
2:2

Due to the incredibly warm weather (+17°C) for early March, the players of both teams faced not only each other, but also the strong sun, which affected their concentration. Even so, in the 15th minute, Yevhen Danylenko demonstrated an excellent sense of position, won a header and headed the ball into the net (1-0).

Obolon U19 did not hesitate to react: Kyiv quickly seized the initiative and levelled the score with a lightning counterattack, taking advantage of the defensive deficiencies of the visitors (1-1).

At the end of the first half, Mriya managed to show a team game in attack: Dmytro Shakun, in close cooperation with Vladyslav Zhavko, played a combination that ended in a well-aimed shot into the corner (2:1). But the second half brought another goal for Mriya, and the match ended with an equal score of 2:2.

11 March: FC Mriya (Hostomel) vs FC Avangard (Lozova)
1:3

Both sides worked hard in defence: Avangard stood out for its solid defence, while Mriya worked well in the centre of the pitch. This cautious tactic led to the teams going into the break with the score 0-0.

In the second half, Avangard found their rhythm: they increased their speed and twice punished our defence with quick attacks – 0: 2.

Despite the pressure from Avangard, hope returned to the hosts in the 88th minute: Oleksandr Shysh managed to break through the opponent’s defensive redoubts and reduce the gap to a minimum (1-2). 

Unfortunately, in an attempt to save the match, Mriya conceded another goal in the last minute – 1-3.

15 March: FC Mriya (Hostomel) vs FC Kalynivka
3:1

Kalynivka is considered one of the main contenders for the gold medal in the Kyiv Region Amateur Championship, so every meeting with them is a test of strength and endurance. From the very first minutes, Mriya demonstrated their determination to win: thanks to aggressive pressure and excellent teamwork in attack, the team scored twice, confidently leading 2-0.

In the 53rd minute, Serhii Kozak extended Mriya’s lead to 3-0 by completing an exemplary combination. Kalynivka reduced the deficit due to a curious situation when a few drops of rain got into our goalkeeper’s eye (3:1). However, this goal remained the last of the match, and the Dreamers celebrated a significant victory over one of the tournament leaders.

16 March: FC Mriya (Hostomel) vs FC Dinaz
1:2

The very next day after the game against Kalynivka, Mriya measured their strength against the first-league Dinaz. Despite their fatigue, the hosts took to the field with high morale, realising that this was a great opportunity to test themselves against a professional PFL team. 

In the 12th minute, Serhiy Kozak was fouled in the visitors penalty area, which allowed Dmytro Prykhodko to open the scoring from the 11-metre mark (1-0). Dinaz tried to get back into the game, but thanks to Mriya’s high concentration and chemistry, the teams went into the break with a minimal advantage.

The experience of playing in the First League showed: in the second half, the guests found their game, shifted their focus to attack and scored twice. Mriya created several chances at the other team’s goal, but it was difficult to cope with the assertive opponents. The final whistle blew to record a 1-2 scoreline.

Looking ahead: second round and big goals

The combination of these four sparring matches demonstrates that Mriya is as close as possible to completing the squad. The club’s coaches and management have got a complete picture of how the players interact on the pitch in different situations and against different opponents – from amateur teams to professional teams of the First League.

• Tactical picture
  Mriya is currently working to take into account the strengths of key players and to distribute roles on the pitch in the most effective way.
• Team cohesion
  In each match, you can see how the understanding between the players is improving, especially during pressing and flank attacks.
• Attitude to fight
  Even in difficult moments, the team does not give up and tries to play until the last whistle, which often results in positive episodes (Shysh’s goal in the 88th minute against Avangard, or a quick response in the game against Obolon U19).

We thank all the fans for their support! There will be even more interesting matches and highlights in the future. So follow our updates to be the first to know about the results and news of the club. And also become a member of the club via our telegram bot. Together – to new victories!

Don’t stop your dreams!!!