Kyiv beats Monchengladbach 3-1 at Champions League playoffs

Dynamo Kyiv came from behind to beat German hosts Borussia Monchengladbach 3-1 at the first leg of UEFA Champions League playoffs on Tuesday. After 16 years of absence at the Champions League the "Foals" failed to prepare the ground for progression, in front of 45,075 spectators at Borussia Park, following a 3-1 loss to Kyiv that recovered after they were one goal behind. Gladbach staged offensively minded soccer from kickoff against clumsy Kyiv that had problems to establish their offensive actions. After a couple of scoring opportunities Monchengladbach finally opened the scoring at the 13th minute through Finnish international midfielder Alexander Ring. Midfielder Juan Arrango assisted with a cross-field pass into the penalty area where Ring controlled the ball and shrugged off one defender to slot into bottom left. Gladbach were apparently in control of the match but as soon as the match progressed Kyiv increased their offensive efforts. Against the run of the match, Dynamo Kyiv astonished the hosts, with the first shot on target, when defender Taras Mikhalik levelled the score with a deflected hammer from 23 meters into top right. The equalizer took the wind out of Monchengladbach sails thus Kyiv capitalized on a misplaced pass at midfield, at the 36th minute, to finish a fast break as striker Andriy Yarmolenko netted from eleven meters into bottom left. The Ukrainians seemed happy with the 2-1 lead and defended deep to lurk for fast breaks meanwhile Gladbach kept creating chances. To make things worse for the hosts, new arrival striker Luuk de Jong netted a clearance attempt into his own goal to make it 3-1 on the scoreboards. "We played well and made a nice goal but we lost our concentration. A match lasts 90 minutes and not 30 minutes," Monchengladbach coach Lucien Favre said. Following the 3-1 defeat to Kyiv, the "Foals" will need a 3-0 away win at the second leg next week to qualify for the group stage of Champions League.