2022–23 Ukrainian Premier League

32nd season of top-tier football league in Vyshcha Liha From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2022–23 Ukrainian Premier League season, referred to as the VBet Liha for sponsorship reasons, was the 32nd top-level football club competition since the fall of the Soviet Union and the 15th since the establishment of the Ukrainian Premier League. The competition took place during the ongoing war with the Russia since late February 2022.

Season2022–23
Dates23 August 2022 – 4 June 2023
Quick facts Season, Dates ...
VBet Liha (UPL)
Official logo[1]
Season2022–23
Dates23 August 2022 – 4 June 2023
ChampionsShakhtar Donetsk
14th Ukrainian league title
RelegatedLviv
Metalist Kharkiv
Inhulets Petrove
Champions LeagueShakhtar Donetsk
Dnipro-1
Europa LeagueZorya Luhansk
Europa Conference LeagueDynamo Kyiv
Vorskla Poltava
Matches240
Goals479 (2 per match)
Top goalscorerArtem Dovbyk
(24 goals)
Biggest home winDnipro-1 5–0 Metalist
(3 May 2023)
Biggest away winMetalist 1925 0–7 Shakhtar
(5 March 2023)
Highest scoringMetalist 5–5 Veres
(15 April 2023)
Longest winning runDnipro-1
Shakhtar
(6 matches)
Longest unbeaten runDnipro-1
(13 matches)
Longest winless runMetalist
(17 matches)
Longest losing runLviv
(6 matches)
Total attendance0
Average attendance0
All statistics correct as of 4 June 2022.
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The defending champions were the 16-time winners Dynamo Kyiv. The previous 2021–22 season was abandoned due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[2] Although Shakhtar Donetsk were at the top of the table when the league was abandoned, no title was officially awarded ("The handing out of awards to the league's medalists will not take place").[3]

The current season began on 23 August 2022 and ended on 3 June 2023.[4] Shakhtar Donetsk were crowned champions for the 14th time in their history.

Preparation

War in Ukraine

Due to the full-scale invasion of Russia, teams were discussing the possibility of playing in western Ukraine as well as Poland. On 27 May 2022, a conference was held in the House of Football involving participants of the Ukrainian Premier League along with the UAF presidium. Topics discussed at the conference included the continuation of the league, possible places and dates of conducting it as well as its format for the future season.[5] On 25 June, the league's executive director, Yevhen Dykyi, explained that the season was expected to start on 20 August in the usual format with 16 participants.[6][7] Later, the president of the Ukrainian Association of Football clarified that the only teams allowed to play abroad would be those still in continental competitions, subject to their opponents' agreement.[8]

Some football functionaries criticised conducting the competitions due to risks of deliberate Russian missile attacks.[9]

Official ball

PUMA Orbita Ball is official football ball of the 2022–23 Ukrainian Premier League, and the Puma brand became an official technical sponsor.[10] It is the leading ball model, certified by FIFA, designed specifically for professional football.[10]

  • The ball formed with high frequency technology provides excellent stability and reduced water absorption, as well as a soft ball feel.
  • New 12-panel concept: identical sized panels for a perfectly balanced weight and flight behavior.
  • Surface: 1.2mm thick 3D surface for greater durability and better aerodynamics. Innovative POE foam for strong grip, improved rebound performance and impact strength.[10]

Teams

This season the Ukrainian Premier League has kept 16 teams, which includes 14 teams from the previous season and the top two teams from the 2021–22 Ukrainian First League. Two teams had their status suspended due to the Russian occupation and/or destruction of their sports infrastructure.

Omitted teams

In case if one or both Desna and Mariupol decide to return to the league competitions next season, it is predetermined that the league team pool would be increased to 18 teams.[11]

Location map

Home venues of teams in the 2022–23 Ukrainian Premier League.
Many teams were playing away from their home venues due to the war.

Stadiums

The minimum threshold for the stadium's capacity in the UPL is 4,500 (Article 10, paragraph 8.3).[12] With the ongoing Russian aggression clubs were forced to relocate to western parts of the country with the Ukrainian Association of Football listed its certified stadiums for the season competitions.[13] It was decided that the main regions in which permitted to conduct competitions are Kyiv city, Kyiv Oblast, Lviv Oblast and Zakarpattia Oblast.[11] A match could take place in other regions on permission of a regional military administration and agreement from the opposing club.

The following stadiums are regarded as home grounds:

More information Rank, Stadium ...
Rank Stadium Place Club Capacity Notes
1 NSC Olimpiyskiy Kyiv Shakhtar Donetsk 70,050 used as home ground during the season[14]
Metalist 1925 Kharkiv used as home ground during the season
FC Oleksandriya used as home ground during the season
Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih used as home ground during the season
2 Arena Lviv Lviv Dynamo Kyiv 34,915 used as home ground in Round 2 and 4
Shakhtar Donetsk used as home ground in Round 4
3 Chornomorets Stadium Odesa Chornomorets Odesa 34,164
4 Ukraina StadiumLviv Rukh Lviv 27,925
5 Butovsky Vorskla Stadium Poltava Vorskla Poltava 24,795
6 Dynamo Stadium Kyiv Dynamo Kyiv 16,873
Zorya Luhansk used as home ground during the season[14]
7 Avanhard Stadium Uzhhorod Metalist Kharkiv 12,000 used as home ground during the season
Vorskla Poltava used as home ground in Round 2
Zorya Luhansk used as home ground in Round 1
Dnipro-1 used as home ground during the season
8 Kolos Stadium Kovalivka Kolos Kovalivka 5,050
9 Avanhard Stadium Rivne Veres Rivne 4,650
10 Skif Stadium Lviv FC Lviv 4,033
11 Hirnyk Stadium Kryvyi Rih Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih 2,500
12 Inhulets Stadium Petrove Inhulets Petrove 1,869
13 Bannikov Stadium Kyiv Chornomorets Odesa 1,678 used as home ground in Round 1
14 Mynai Arena Mynai FC Mynai 1,312
Vorskla Poltava used as home ground in Round 4
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Personnel and sponsorship

Notes:

Managerial changes

More information Team, Outgoing manager ...
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Vorskla Poltava Ukraine Yuriy Maksymov Dismissed 2 June 2022[16] Pre-season Ukraine Viktor Skrypnyk 1 July 2022[17]
Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih Ukraine Oleksandr Babych Mutual agreement 6 June 2022[18] Ukraine Yuriy Vernydub 21 June 2022[19]
Zorya Luhansk Ukraine Viktor Skrypnyk Moved to Vorskla Poltava 28 June 2022[17][20] Netherlands Patrick van Leeuwen 28 June 2022[21][22]
Dnipro-1 Croatia Igor Jovićević End of contract 30 June 2022 Ukraine Oleksandr Kucher 29 July 2022[23]
Shakhtar Donetsk Italy Roberto De Zerbi Mutual agreement 11 July 2022[24] Croatia Igor Jovićević 14 July 2022[25]
Metalist Kharkiv Ukraine Oleksandr Kucher Moved to SC Dnipro-1 13 July 2022[26] Ukraine Oleh Ratiy (caretaker) 13 July 2022[27][28]
Metalist 1925 Kharkiv Ukraine Valeriy Kryventsov Sacked 22 October 2022 10th Ukraine Edmar (caretaker) 23 October 2022[29]
Inhulets Petrove Ukraine Serhiy Lavrynenko Mutual consent 13 November 2022 15th Croatia Mladen Bartulović (interim) 13 November 2022[30][31]
Oleksandriya Ukraine Yuriy Hura Dismissed 14 December 2022[32][33][34] 5th Ukraine Ruslan Rotan 21 December 2022[35]
Inhulets Petrove Croatia Mladen Bartulović (interim) End of interim 29 December 2022 14th Ukraine Serhiy Kovalets 29 December 2022[36][37]
Metalist Kharkiv Ukraine Oleh Ratiy (interim) Change of role 27 January 2023 11th Serbia Perica Ognjenović (interim) 27 January 2023[38]
Rukh Lviv Belarus Leonid Kuchuk Sacked 19 March 2023[39] 14th Ukraine Vitaliy Ponomaryov 20 March 2023[40]
FC Lviv Belarus Oleg Dulub Resigned 21 March 2023[41] 16th Ukraine Anatoliy Bezsmertnyi 21 March 2023[42]
FC Lviv Ukraine Anatoliy Bezsmertnyi Resigned 1 June 2023 16th Ukraine Roman Handzyn (interim) 1 June 2023
Inhulets Petrove Ukraine Serhiy Kovalets Mutual agreement 4 June 2023[43] 14th Ukraine Vladyslav Lupashko (interim) 4 June 2023[43]
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League table

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Shakhtar Donetsk (C) 30 22 6 2 69 21 +48 72 Qualification for the Champions League group stage
2 Dnipro-1 30 21 4 5 61 27 +34 67 Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round
3 Zorya Luhansk 30 20 4 6 61 34 +27 64 Qualification for the Europa League play-off round
4 Dynamo Kyiv 30 18 6 6 51 25 +26 60 Qualification for the Europa Conference League third qualifying round
5 Vorskla Poltava 30 13 6 11 38 37 +1 45 Qualification for the Europa Conference League second qualifying round
6 Oleksandriya 30 10 14 6 42 39 +3 44
7 Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih 30 12 5 13 26 30 4 41
8 Mynai 30 9 9 12 25 30 5 36[a]
9 Kolos Kovalivka 30 10 6 14 23 36 13 36[a]
10 Chornomorets Odesa 30 9 8 13 35 40 5 35
11 Rukh Lviv 30 7 11 12 31 37 6 32[b]
12 Metalist 1925 Kharkiv 30 6 14 10 23 42 19 32[b]
13 Veres Rivne (O) 30 8 7 15 35 45 10 31[c] Qualification for the Relegation play-offs
14 Inhulets Petrove (R) 30 8 7 15 22 34 12 31[c]
15 Metalist Kharkiv (R) 30 5 7 18 27 58 31 22 Relegation to Ukrainian First League
16 Lviv (R) 30 3 4 23 18 52 34 13 Suspended its operations for the next season
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Source: upl.ua
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Draw or "Golden match" if two teams tied for title (Article 22, paragraph 3).[44]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. Head-to-head points: Mynai 4, Kolos 1.
  2. Tied on head-to-head points, head-to-head goal difference, head-to-head goals scored.
  3. Tied on head-to-head points, head-to-head goal difference, head-to-head goals scored.

Results

Teams play each other twice on a home and away basis.

More information Home \ Away, CHO ...
Home \ Away CHO DN1 DYN INH KOL KRY LVI M25 MET MYN OLK RUX SHA VER VOR ZOR
Chornomorets Odesa 1–2 0–3 1–1 3–0 0–1 2–0 1–1 0–0 0–1 1–2 1–3 2–2 0–1 0–1 0–4
Dnipro-1 1–0 0–1 2–2 2–1 1–0 5–2 3–0 5–0 3–1 1–1[a] 3–2 2–1 2–0 1–2 3–0
Dynamo Kyiv 2–3 0–3 0–2 0–0 3–1 1–0 0–0 3–0 2–0 3–1 3–0 1–1 3–0 1–1 0–1
Inhulets Petrove 1–2 0–2 1–2 0–1 0–0 1–0 0–0 2–1 1–2 1–2 1–0 0–2 1–0 0–1 1–0
Kolos Kovalivka 1–1 1–3 0–3 0–0 1–0 1–0 3–0 1–0 0–1 0–2 2–0 1–3 2–0 1–2 0–1
Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih 2–3 2–1 0–1 2–1 1–0 0–0 0–2 2–0 0–0 2–1 1–0 0–3 0–1 1–0 1–0
Lviv 0–1 0–3 0–2 0–2 0–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–0 0–1 2–1 1–2 1–3 0–2 2–3
Metalist 1925 Kharkiv 0–0 0–3 1–1 2–1 2–0 0–2 2–2 2–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–7 1–4 3–2 0–3
Metalist Kharkiv 0–3 0–1 1–3 1–1 0–0 0–1 1–0 0–0 1–2 0–0 1–2 1–6 5–5 3–2 0–5
Mynai 0–1 0–1 0–1 1–2 1–1 1–0 0–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 0–0 1–4 1–1 2–0 3–0[b]
Oleksandriya 1–1 2–2 1–5 0–0 4–1 2–0 2–0 3–3 1–3 2–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 3–0 0–2
Rukh Lviv 2–2 2–3 1–1 3–0 0–1 2–1 2–0 1–1 1–2 1–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 1–1 3–1
Shakhtar Donetsk 2–1 3–0 3–1 3–0 3–0 1–0 2–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 2–2 2–0 2–1 3–2 2–2
Veres Rivne 1–3 0–1 0–1 1–0 0–1 1–2 3–2 1–0 1–2 1–1 2–2 2–2 0–2 2–2 0–1
Vorskla Poltava 2–1 0–0 1–2 1–0 2–0 1–0 1–0 0–0 3–2 2–0 0–0 0–1 2–1 1–2 2–3
Zorya Luhansk 3–1 2–1 3–2 2–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–0 3–2 1–1 4–1 3–0 0–3 1–0 3–1
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Source: UPL calendar
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.
Notes:
  1. The match, which kicked off on 23 November 2022, has been abandoned at the 10th minute, then resumed on 11 May 2023[45]
  2. The Round 30 match Mynai – Zorya originally ended in 0–3 win for Luhansk team, on 23 June 2023 it was reversed by the UAF CDC which awarded a technical win 3–0 to Mynai, because Zorya fielded Dmytro Myshnyov who was not listed for the match.[46]

Matches affected by air alerts

Round 1.
Rukh vs Metalist. The match had been interrupted three times (in 44th, 51st, 77th minute).[47]
Dnipro-1 vs Oleksandriya. The match, which kicked off on 23 November 2022, has been interrupted in the 10th minute, then resumed on 11 May 2023.[48][49]
Round 5.
Veres vs Rukh. Kick off time was delayed for 30 minutes.[50]
Lviv vs Dnipro-1. The match had been interrupted in the 55th minute.[51]
Round 6.
Dynamo vs Rukh. The match had been interrupted in the 80th minute.[52]
Round 7.
Metalist 1925 vs Lviv. Kick off time was delayed for 20 minutes.[53]
Zorya vs Kolos. The match had been interrupted in the 59th minute.[54]
Round 8.
Vorskla vs Rukh. The match had been interrupted in the 22nd minute.[55]
Dnipro-1 vs Inhulets. The match had been interrupted in the 23rd minute.[56]
Round 9.
Kryvbas vs Inhulets. The match had been interrupted in the 21st minute.[57]
Kolos vs Chornomorets. Kick off time was delayed for 60 minutes.[58]
Round 10.
Shakhtar vs Oleksandriya. The match had been interrupted in the 40th minute.[59]
Round 11.
Oleksandriya vs Kolos. Kick off time was delayed for 20 minutes.[60]
Round 12.
Kryvbas vs Vorskla. The match had been interrupted in the 3rd minute.[61]
Kolos vs Dnipro-1. Kick off time was delayed for 120 minutes.[62]
Round 13.
Vorskla vs Dnipro-1. Kick off time was delayed for 85 minutes.[63]
Round 15.
Kryvbas vs Dnipro-1. The match had been interrupted in the 21st minute.[64]
Round 16.
Oleksandriya vs Dnipro-1. The match had been interrupted in the 56th minute.[65]
Round 18.
Vorskla vs Metalist 1925. The match had been interrupted in the 76th minute.[66]
Round 20.
Kryvbas vs Zorya. The match had been interrupted in the 55th minute.[67]
Round 22.
Kryvbas vs Chornomorets. The match had been interrupted in the 31st minute.[68]
Oleksandriya vs Inhulets. The match had been interrupted in the 21st minute.[69]
Round 24.
Zorya vs Veres. The match had been interrupted in the 71st minute.[70]
Vorskla vs Dynamo. The match had been interrupted in the 82nd minute.[71]
Round 25.
Kryvbas vs Dynamo. Kick off time was delayed for 15 minutes.[72]
Round 27.
Oleksandriya vs Dynamo. The match had been interrupted in the 75th minute.[73]
Round 28.
Kolos vs Dynamo. Kick off time was delayed for 40 minutes.[74]
Round 30.
Vorskla vs Shakhtar. Kick off time was delayed for 20 minutes.[75]

Relegation play-offs

Teams that placed 13th and 14th in the 2022–23 Ukrainian Premier League play two-leg play-off with the third and fourth teams of the 2022–23 Ukrainian First League. The draw for play-offs took place on 2 June 2023[76] and the games will be played on 10 and 14 June 2023. If players of the clubs would be called to the national teams, games will be moved to June 8 and 12.

More information Team 1, Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score ...
Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Inhulets Petrove 2–3 LNZ Cherkasy 1–1 1–2
Metalurh Zaporizhzhia 2–6 Veres Rivne 1–0 1–6
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First leg

More information Inhulets Petrove, 1 – 1 ...
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Attendance: 0
Referee: Vitaliy Romanov (Dnipro)

More information Metalurh Zaporizhzhia, 1 – 0 ...
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Attendance: 0
Referee: Yuriy Ivanov (Donetsk Oblast)

Second leg

More information LNZ Cherkasy, 2 – 1 ...
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Attendance: 0
Referee: Maksym Kozyryatskyi (Zaporizhia)

LNZ Cherkasy won 3–2 on aggregate and were promoted to the UPL; Inhulets were relegated to the First League


More information Veres Rivne, 6 – 1 ...
Veres Rivne6 – 1Metalurh Zaporizhzhia
Krapyvnyi 16' (o.g.)
Balan 23', 66'
Hahun 29'
Pasich 82'
Hayduchyk 89'
Report Sokol Red card 37'
Mohylnyi 90+1'
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Attendance: 0
Referee: Dmytro Bondarenko (Odesa)

Veres Rivne won 6–2 on aggregrate and both teams remained in their respective divisions

Season statistics

More information Rank, Scorer ...
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Assists

As of 28 May 2023[79][80]

More information Rank, Scorer ...
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Clean sheets

As of 28 May 2023[81]

Awards

Monthly awards

More information Month, Player of the Month ...
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Round awards

More information Round, Player ...
Round Player Coach
Player Club Reference Coach Club Reference
Round 1 The awards that supposed to be announced never were given out. [89]
Round 2 Ukraine Oleksandr Pikhalyonok SC Dnipro-1 [90] Ukraine Oleksandr Kucher SC Dnipro-1 [90][91]
Round 3 Ukraine Nazariy Rusyn Zorya Luhansk [92] Ukraine Oleh Ratiy Metalist Kharkiv [93]
Round 4 Brazil Talles Rukh Lviv [94] Belarus Leonid Kuchuk Rukh Lviv [95]
Round 5 Ukraine Danylo Sikan Shakhtar Donetsk [96] Ukraine Valeriy Kryventsov Metalist 1925 Kharkiv [97]
Round 6 Ukraine Artem Dovbyk SC Dnipro-1 [98] Ukraine Oleksandr Kucher SC Dnipro-1 [98][99]
Round 7 Ukraine Mykhailo Mudryk Shakhtar Donetsk [100] Croatia Igor Jovićević Shakhtar Donetsk [100][101]
Round 8 Ukraine Serhiy Buletsa Zorya Luhansk [102] Ukraine Serhiy Lavrynenko Inhulets Petrove [102][103]
Round 9 Ukraine Roman Debelko Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih [104] Netherlands Patrick van Leeuwen Zorya Luhansk [104][105]
Round 10 Ukraine Vitaliy Buyalskyi Dynamo Kyiv [106] Ukraine Yuriy Hura FC Oleksandriya [106][107]
Round 11 Ukraine Dmytro Kryskiv Shakhtar Donetsk [108] Ukraine Yuriy Virt Veres Rivne [108][109]
Round 12 Ukraine Artem Dovbyk Dnipro-1 [110] Ukraine Serhiy Lavrynenko Inhulets Petrove [110]
Round 13 Ukraine Yevhen Volynets Kolos Kovalivka [111] Ukraine Yaroslav Vyshnyak Kolos Kovalivka [111]
Round 14 Ukraine Artem Dovbyk Dnipro-1 [112] Ukraine Oleksandr Kucher Dnipro-1 [112]
Round 15 Ukraine Oleh Mozil Metalist 1925 [113] Ukraine Yuriy Vernydub Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih [114]
winter break
Round 16 Ukraine Volodymyr Brazhko Zorya Luhansk [115] Ukraine Serhiy Kovalets Inhulets Petrove [115]
Round 17 Ukraine Volodymyr Odaryuk Inhulets Petrove [116] Romania Mircea Lucescu Dynamo Kyiv [116]
Round 18 Bosnia and Herzegovina Rifet Kapić Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih [117] Netherlands Patrick van Leeuwen Zorya Luhansk [117]
Round 19 Ukraine Artem Dovbyk SC Dnipro-1 [118] Ukraine Roman Hryhorchuk Chornomorets Odesa [118]
Round 20 Ukraine Oleksiy Hutsulyak SC Dnipro-1 [119] Ukraine Yuriy Vernydub Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih [119]
Round 21 Ukraine Nazariy Rusyn Zorya Luhansk [120] Netherlands Patrick van Leeuwen Zorya Luhansk [120]
Round 22 Ukraine Danyil Alefirenko Chornomorets Odesa [121] Ukraine Roman Hryhorchuk Chornomorets Odesa [121]
Round 23 Panama Eduardo Guerrero Zorya Luhansk [122] Netherlands Patrick van Leeuwen Zorya Luhansk [122]
Round 24 Brazil João Peglow SC Dnipro-1 [123] Ukraine Oleksandr Shovkovskyi Dynamo Kyiv [123]
Round 25 Ukraine Yuriy Klymchuk Rukh Lviv [124] Ukraine Vitaliy Ponomaryov Rukh Lviv [124]
Round 26 Ukraine Oleksandr Demchenko Chornomorets Odesa [125] Ukraine Roman Hryhorchuk Chornomorets Odesa [125]
Round 27 Ukraine Oleksandr Bandura FC Mynai [126] Ukraine Volodymyr Sharan FC Mynai [126]
Round 28 Mali Ibrahim Kane Vorskla Poltava [127] Ukraine Viktor Skrypnyk Vorskla Poltava [127]
Round 29 Ukraine Artem Bondarenko Shakhtar Donetsk [128] Croatia Igor Jovićević Shakhtar Donetsk [128]
Round 30 Ukraine Nazar Rusyn Zorya Luhansk [129] Ukraine Viktor Skrypnyk Vorskla Poltava [129]
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See also

Notes

  1. Kick off time was delayed for 40 minutes due to air alert.[77]

References

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