Metalist ordered to defy mighty Dynamo

Coach Myron Markevich expects his out-of-sorts FC Metalist Kharkiv side to "play to win at all costs" as they bid to overturn a 1-0 UEFA Cup Round of 16 first-leg deficit at home to FC Dynamo Kyiv.

Coming unstuck
Arguably the surprise package of the UEFA Cup season, Metalist have come a little unstuck in recent weeks, picking up one point from the last nine in Ukraine's Premier League and losing to Ognjen Vukojević's goal in Kiev last week – in the first instalment of this first all-Ukrainian European tie. "We have started to concede too many goals and I don't know why," said Markevich.

League results
Home defeats by leaders Dynamo and FC Shakhtar Donetsk this month have caused Metalist to slip to third in the domestic table, with hopes of competing for the title with Yuri Semin's pacesetters fading fast. Yet while they have fallen behind Shakhtar too, their chase for a second-placed finish – and 2009/10 UEFA Champions League qualification – is ongoing.

'My mistake'
Metalist's UEFA Cup challenge may also have life left in it, provided they reseal the gaps at the back. Before conceding in the first leg, goalkeeper Olexandr Goryainov had not been beaten in six UEFA Cup outings. "It was my mistake in Kiev," said the 33-year-old, who this week received a first international call-up. "But we never say die. Our chances are still realistic. We will play to win."

Rykun injury
Defender Seweryn Gancarczyk is suspended for the return match, while attacking midfielder Olexandr Rykun has been ruled out for several weeks with a broken collarbone. Poor weather in Kharkov prompted the club to take the players south to the Crimea for extra training, yet there are concerns the flights may have left the squad feeling sluggish as they came home on Tuesday.

'Cold and rain'
"It has been cold and wet here, and it is very difficult to prepare for such a big game in those conditions," explained Markevich. "That is why we had to do some flying, which has also affected the players, but the stakes are too high to start worrying about weather conditions or travel. We have to go out on the pitch and play to win at all costs."

Pressure on
Sunday's 3-1 victory at FC Metalurh Zaporizhya put Dynamo 12 points clear in the Premier League, and while last week's hero Vukojević serves a suspension against Metalist, Semin is optimistic. He said: "We played a very good second half in Zaporizhya, but we need to play that well for 90 minutes in Kharkov and I hope I don't need to explain that to anyone."