In a dazzling display of skill and determination, Nigerian forward Kayode Olanrewaju clinched his inaugural major silverware with Shakhtar Donetsk as they triumphed over arch-rivals Dynamo Kiev with a convincing 2-0 victory in the Ukrainian Cup final at the illustrious Dnipro Arena on Wednesday.
The remarkable achievement unfolded as Kayode, who had previously showcased his goal-scoring prowess in the semi-final clash against Marioupol last month, commenced the final match on the bench. However, his impactful entry into the game materialized when he seamlessly replaced Victor Kovalenko in the second half.
The triumph marked the 12th time that the formidable Shakhtar Donetsk, guided by the adept leadership of coach Paulo Fonseca, has hoisted the prestigious Ukrainian Cup, solidifying their stature as a dominant force in Ukrainian football.
The turning point in the match materialized early in the second half when Argentine forward Facundo Ferreyra expertly broke the deadlock just two minutes after the resumption of play. Yaroslav Rakitskiy further heightened the jubilation for Shakhtar Donetsk by securing the second goal, a powerful strike beyond Dynamo Kiev’s reach, a mere minute after the half-hour mark.
As the celebratory cheers echoed through the arena, Shakhtar Donetsk now stands on the precipice of securing the domestic double for the second consecutive season. Their commanding five-point lead over Dynamo Kiev in the Ukrainian Premier League table positions them favorably to claim another prestigious title under Fonseca’s strategic guidance.
