Dynamo join BATE in confirming Group E progress

FC Dynamo Kyiv confirmed their place in the UEFA Europa League knockout stage with an impressive display against FC BATE Borisov which enabled them to leapfrog their opponents at the top of Group E.

Previously unbeaten in the section, already-qualified BATE had no answer to a Dynamo team who looked like scoring whenever they went forward. Ognjen Vukojević and Andriy Yarmolenko put the visitors in command with goals which were added to after the break by Oleh Gusev − from the spot − and Artem Milevskiy, who took his tally to five in as many group games. Pavel Nekhaychik's late effort was nothing more than consolation.

Dominant domestically in 2010, BATE kicked off with the unfamiliar feeling of having lost their last two games. Their first home fixture against Ukrainian opposition did not start well either as Goran Popov's deflected free-kick ran kindly for Vukojević to steer the ball past Aleksandr Gutor on 16 minutes.

Oleh Luzhny's team were enjoying themselves at the snow-covered Dinamo Stadion and ought to have doubled their lead when Milevskiy, through on goal, shot straight at Gutor. Milevskiy and Dynamo need not have worried, however, for Yarmolenko increased the lead two minutes before half-time, turning in Roman Eremenko's ball across goal following some slick approach play.

Gusev struck five minutes into the second half after being felled by Maksim Bordachev, while only the sharp reactions of Gutor moments later prevented Yarmolenko from heading in number four. That duly arrived midway through the second half, though, Yarmolenko being released by Popov on the left and turning provider for Milevskiy.

Nekhaychik's curling effort six minutes from time did little to quell the enthusiasm of a Dynamo side who will win the section by matching BATE's result against AZ Alkmaar in two weeks' time.