Dynamo trio sidelined for vital Maccabi visit

FC Dynamo Kyiv will be without striker Andriy Shevchenko, goalkeeper Olexandr Shovkovskiy and defensive midfielder Ognjen Vukojević for Wednesday's decisive UEFA Europa League match against Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC.

The 35-year-old Shevchenko sustained a knee injury in Dynamo's 1-1 draw at Stoke City FC on 1 December and has aggravated it further in training. First-choice keeper Shovkovskiy was already a doubt after missing the last two Premier-Liha fixtures with a calf knock, with Maxym Koval, 19, set to deputise. Vukojević is suffering from knee and groin problems.

The news is a blow to coach Yuri Semin who is already without long-term absentees Taras Mikhalik and Goran Popov. Dynamo lie third in Group E, three points adrift of second-placed Beşiktaş JK, and require victory at home to Maccabi and for Beşiktaş to lose against already-qualified Stoke to have a chance of qualifying for the round of 32.