Shovkovskiy saves the 'unsavable'

That FC Dynamo Kyiv remain in UEFA Champions League contention after a 0-0 draw at FC Rubin Kazan is more than a little to do with the heroics of goalkeeper Olexandr Shovkovskiy on his 100th European club competition appearance.

Superb save
The 34-year-old produced a breathtaking stop on the stroke of half-time from an Alejandro Domínguez overhead kick that Rubin striker Aleksandr Bukharov described as "unsavable". Shovkovskiy thereby ensured Dynamo – who did create more chances than their opponents – remained within a point of second-placed FC Internazionale Milano in Group F, where all four teams can still go through or be eliminated.

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Shovkovskiy, who only returned from a five-week absence due to a stomach muscle injury in the weekend 3-0 defeat of FC Shakhtar Donetsk, said: "I saw Domínguez was going for an overhead kick so in a split second I managed to predict that if he hit the ball on target it would go to the left of me. It went like I expected so I did not do anything extraordinary here. I just managed to brace and put out my hand in time."

'Tough game'
Indeed, Shovkovskiy was given plenty to do on a wintry Kazan night. "I did not freeze," he added. "Rubin did not let me." Now a three-goal win against FC Barcelona in a fortnight would take Dynamo through, while a more narrow victory could also be enough. Shovkovskiy added: "It was a tough game. Given our situation in the group, we played to win. A draw did not really suit us but we still have a chance of qualifying for the next stage."

Dynamo chances
In fact, having survived their first-half scare, Dynamo could have ended up in a better position had they taken chances after the break through Andriy Yarmolenko, Artem Milevskiy and Andriy Shevchenko. "There is some disappointment since we had more scoring chances," Shovkovskiy continued. "But that is football. It would not be interesting if the team creating more chances always won."

Fair result
Rubin could have ended Matchday 5 top with a win; as it is they are two points behind Barcelona and level with Inter. Bukharov acknowledged the role Shovkovskiy played in frustrating the newly crowned Russian champions, saying: "He was outstanding in the first half, saving that unsavable shot from Domínguez – a very good goalkeeper. I would not say Dynamo dominated after the break. Both teams wanted to win so they started to play open football. We had our chances, Kiev had theirs. Whoever who would have had the most luck would have won, so the draw is a just outcome."