Ukraine round-up: Shakhtar push on

FC Shakhtar Donetsk's 1-0 away win against FC Obolon Kyiv maintained their four-point lead over FC Dynamo Kyiv at the top of the Ukrainian Premier League.

Lewandowski the hero
Shakhtar took the lead on three minutes when Mariusz Lewandowski headed in a corner, before the away side wasted numerous chances to extend their advantage. Oleh Mazurenko should have equalized for Obolon on 17 minutes but hit the post, leaving champions Shakhtar with 56 points from their 22 games.

Rincon winner
Dynamo kept pace with the leaders thanks to a hard-fought 2-1 away win against FC Vorskla Poltava. Slovenian international Zoran Pavlovic put Vorskla in front after 13 minutes but Alexandr Khatskevich equalized for Dynamo three minutes before the break. Diogo Rincon then struck the winner with nine minutes remaining to secure maximum points for the away side, who still have eight games left to catch Shakhtar.

Chornomorets maintain form
Elsewhere, FC Chornomorets Odesa recorded their fifth victory since the start of the spring season with a 1-0 win against struggling FC Metalist Kharkiv. Ukraine Under-21 striker Konstantyn Balabanov was the hero for the home side, scoring the only goal of the game with just two minutes remaining.

Zaporizhya in trouble
FC Metalurh Zaporizhya are now bottom of the standings, and six points adrift of safety, following a 2-1 defeat at the hands of FC Olexandria. Igor Jovicevic scored the decisive goal as FC Karpaty Lviv upset FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 1-0, while Cameroon U21 international Emaco Siankam helped FC Volyn Lutsk to a 1-0 victory over FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih. Georgi Demetradze and Ilia Stolica scored as FC Metalurh Donetsk defeated FC Tavriya Simferopol, while FC Illichivets Mariupil played out a goalless draw with FC Arsenal Kyiv.