2017–18 Ukrainian First League
Football league season
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The 2017–18 Ukrainian First League was the 27th since its establishment. The competition commenced on 14 July 2017 when Zhemchuzhyna Odesa hosted MFC Mykolaiv. After the completion of Round 22 on 18 November 2017, the competition entered a winter break and resumed the spring session on 18 March 2018 and complete the competition on 19 May 2018.
Desna Chernihiv
| Season | 2017–18 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 14 July 2017 – 19 May 2018 |
| Champions | Arsenal–Kyiv Kyiv |
| Promoted | Arsenal–Kyiv Kyiv Desna Chernihiv |
| Relegated | Kremin Kremenchuk Cherkaskyi Dnipro |
| Matches | 294 |
| Goals | 659 (2.24 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | 25 – Oleksandr Akymenko (Inhulets) |
| Biggest home win | 5 – Balkany 5–0 Volyn (Round 19) Desna 5–0 Helios (Round 34) |
| Biggest away win | 7 – Mykolaiv 1–8 Desna (Round 15) |
| Highest scoring | 9 – Mykolaiv 1–8 Desna (Round 15) |
| Longest winning run | 7 – Arsenal (Round 8–14) , Desna (Round 28–34) |
| Longest unbeaten run | 19 – Arsenal (Round 1–19) |
| Longest winless run | 11 – Mykolaiv (Round 7–17) |
| Longest losing run | 8 – Helios (Round 27–34) |
| Highest attendance | 4,836 – Desna – Arsenal (Round 26) |
| Lowest attendance | 0[1] – Desna – Avanhard (Round 24) |
← 2016–17 2018–19 →
All statistics correct as of 19 May 2018. | |
Teams
On 21 June 2017, it was announced that 16 or 18 teams would play in the competition.[2][3] This decision was dependent on the possible withdrawal of FC Stal Kamianske from the Premier League.[4] Due to sanctions, FC Dnipro was relegated directly to the Second League which raised a discussion of a promotion possibly of another club to the First League. In addition in the case of the withdrawal of Stal, Desna had an opportunity to be accepted to the Ukrainian Premier League with another ongoing inter-season case (see Desna vs Veres promotion) leaving the First League with 16 participants. On 26 June 2017, FC Stal Kamianske chose to stay in the Premier League, while at same time FC Balkany Zorya was confirmed as the 18th participant of the First League season.[5]
Promoted teams
The following teams have been promoted from the 2016–17 Ukrainian Second League:
- Zhemchuzhyna Odesa – winners (debut)
- Rukh Vynnyky – runners-up (debut)
- Kremin Kremenchuk – third place (returning for the first time since 1998–99 season)
- Balkany Zorya – fourth place (debut)
Relegated teams
The following team has been relegated from the 2016–17 Ukrainian Premier League:
- Volyn Lutsk – 12th place (returning for the first time since 2009–10 season)
Location map
The following displays the location of teams.
Stadiums
The following stadiums are considered home grounds for the teams in the competition.
Notes:
Managers
Notes:
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing head coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Table | Incoming head coach | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC Cherkaskyi Dnipro | Terminated | 8 June 2017[25] | Pre-season | 23 June 2017 | ||
| PFC Sumy | Transfer to FC Poltava | 22 June 2017[26] | 26 June 2017[27] | |||
| FC Poltava | Resigned | 4 July 2017 | 4 July 2017[28] | |||
| FC Volyn Lutsk | Resigned | 13 July 2017 | 13 July 2017[29] | |||
| FC Rukh Vynnyky | Fired | 11 August 2017[30] | 16th | 11 August 2017[31] | ||
| FC Zhemchuzhyna Odesa | Resigned | 21 August 2017[32] | 12th | 24 August 2017[33] | ||
| FC Volyn Lutsk | Filed for resignation (vacation) | 21 August 2017[34][35] | 16th | 21 August 2017[36] | ||
| PFC Sumy | Resigned | 31 August 2017[37][38] | 18th | 31 August 2017[39] | ||
| Obolon-Brovar Kyiv | Resigns | 16 September 2017[40] | 10th | 19 September 2017[41] | ||
| Rukh Vynnyky | Mutual consent | 12 November 2017[42][43] | 11th | 13 November 2017[44] | ||
| FC Volyn Lutsk | End of interim | 30 November[45] | 17th | 30 November 2017[45] | ||
| FC Cherkaskyi Dnipro | Terminated | 1 December 2017 | 18th | 1 December 2017[46] | ||
| Helios Kharkiv | Fired | 4 December 2017[47] | 6th | 27 December 2017[48] | ||
| PFC Sumy | Resigned | 10 January 2018[49] | 16th | 28 February 2018[50] | ||
| Obolon-Brovar Kyiv | End of interim | 12 January 2018[51] | 10th | 12 January 2018[51] | ||
| FC Zhemchuzhyna Odesa | Continue as sportive director | 22 January 2018[52] | 13th | 22 January 2018[52] | ||
| Helios Kharkiv | Fired | 13 April 2018[53] | 6th | 18 April 2018[54] |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal Kyiv (C, P) | 34 | 23 | 6 | 5 | 59 | 23 | +36 | 75 | Promotion to Ukrainian Premier League |
| 2 | FC Poltava (O, X) | 34 | 23 | 3 | 8 | 56 | 26 | +30 | 72 | Qualification to promotion play-offs |
| 3 | Desna Chernihiv (O, P) | 34 | 22 | 5 | 7 | 71 | 25 | +46 | 71 | |
| 4 | Inhulets Petrove | 34 | 21 | 6 | 7 | 46 | 20 | +26 | 69 | |
| 5 | Kolos Kovalivka | 34 | 19 | 4 | 11 | 39 | 30 | +9 | 61 | |
| 6 | Avanhard Kramatorsk | 34 | 15 | 7 | 12 | 44 | 42 | +2 | 52 | |
| 7 | Rukh Vynnyky | 34 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 36 | 30 | +6 | 51 | |
| 8 | Hirnyk-Sport Horishni Plavni | 34 | 16 | 2 | 16 | 30 | 40 | −10 | 50 | |
| 9 | Helios Kharkiv[a] | 34 | 14 | 4 | 16 | 35 | 43 | −8 | 46 | |
| 10 | MFC Mykolaiv | 34 | 12 | 8 | 14 | 39 | 50 | −11 | 44 | |
| 11 | PFC Sumy | 34 | 12 | 6 | 16 | 30 | 37 | −7 | 42 | |
| 12 | Balkany Zorya | 34 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 30 | 35 | −5 | 40 | |
| 13 | Volyn Lutsk | 34 | 11 | 3 | 20 | 31 | 44 | −13 | 36 | |
| 14 | Obolon-Brovar Kyiv | 34 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 24 | 37 | −13 | 35 | |
| 15 | Naftovyk-Ukrnafta Okhtyrka[b] (R, X) | 34 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 27 | 42 | −15 | 33 | Withdrew after the season |
| 16 | Kremin Kremenchuk (R) | 34 | 9 | 5 | 20 | 25 | 54 | −29 | 32 | Relegation to Ukrainian Second League |
| 17 | Cherkaskyi Dnipro (R) | 34 | 8 | 4 | 22 | 27 | 50 | −23 | 28 | |
| 18 | Zhemchuzhyna Odesa[c] (X) | 34 | 7 | 6 | 21 | 33 | 54 | −21 | 27 | Withdrew after Round 31 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head goals scored; 7) Fair play; 8) Draw or "golden match" (if tied for first).[59]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated; (X) Withdrew
Notes:
- After the season completed, Helios Kharkiv was merged into FC Kobra Kharkiv.[55][56] Kobra in its turn withdrew its professional squad from the league after playing only three games next season. And the president of actual Kobra admitted that he does not control the team that plays in the First League.
- After the season completed, Ukrnafta (related to the Privat Group) who sponsored Naftovyk-Ukrnafta Okhtyrka decided to liquidate the club since it was a tax liability.[57][56]
- Zhemchuzhyna Odesa withdrew after Round 31. Technical losses were adjudged against the team in the last three matches.[58] At time of withdrawal, Zhemchuzhyna's had played 31 matches, with a record of 7 wins, 6 draws and 18 losses, scoring 33 goals and having conceded 54 goals.
Results
Position by round
Promotion play-offs
Apart from a break in 2014, the post-season play-offs in the First League have been actively conducted since 2011. However, the promotion play-offs were reintroduced for the first time since the 2001–02 season. Teams that placed 10th and 11th in the 2017–18 Ukrainian Premier League play two-leg play-offs with the second and third teams of the 2017–18 Ukrainian First League. On 11 May 2018, a draw for play-offs took place in the House of Football, Kyiv.[64] The games were played on 23 May and 27 May 2018.[65]
Top goalscorers
- As of 19 May 2018
| Rank | Scorer | Team | Goals (Pen.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inhulets Petrove | 25 (11) | |
| 2 | FC Poltava | 15 (1) | |
| 3 | Arsenal Kyiv | 14 | |
| Desna Chernihiv | 14 (3) | ||
| 5 | Desna Chernihiv | 11 (2) | |
| 6 | FC Poltava | 10 | |
| Avanhard Kramatorsk | 10 (5) | ||
| 8 | Desna Chernihiv | 9 | |
| Helios Kharkiv | 9 | ||
| MFC Mykolaiv | 9 (1) | ||
| Helios Kharkiv | 9 (3) |
Notes:
Awards
Round awards
The 2017 annual coaching laureates
The best coaches were identified by the All-Ukrainian Football Coaches Association.[132]
| 1st place | 2nd place | 3rd place | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coach | Team | Coach | Team | Coach | Team |
| Oleksandr Ryabokon | Desna Chernihiv | Serhiy Lytovchenko | Arsenal-Kyiv | Serhiy Syzykhin | Helios Kharkiv |
Season awards
The laureates of the 2017–18 season were:[133]
- Best player:
Denys Favorov (Desna Chernihiv) - Best coach:
Anatoliy Bezsmertnyi (FC Poltava) - Top goalscorer:
Oleksandr Akymenko (Inhulets Petrove) - Fair Play award: Desna Chernihiv