Vitaliy Pervak admitted his team made a critical tactical error that cost them in the first UPL playoff match. The Livyi Bereh head coach watched his side fall to a 0:1 defeat against "Metalist 1925" despite creating several scoring opportunities throughout the contest.
"We made a tactical mistake and conceded a goal. Most importantly, we couldn't score despite having enough chances. We lacked a bit of composure," – Pervak explained after the match.
Despite the disappointing result, Pervak praised the atmosphere created by the home supporters and emphasized that the tie is far from over, with a second leg still to play. His game plan had been aggressive from the opening whistle – a deliberate strategy designed to capitalize on home advantage.
The coach also addressed personnel issues, noting that injuries to Riznyk and Diego forced immediate substitutions. Not ideal timing when facing such organized opposition.
Interestingly, according to Statbet analysis, teams that lose the first leg of UPL playoffs by a single goal still have approximately a 40% chance of advancing across the two matches.
"Metalist 1925 is a serious team with skillful players. They're well-organized," Pervak acknowledged. "It was an even game, but we conceded – that's the whole problem."
Looking ahead to the crucial second leg, Pervak plans to make changes to his lineup, understanding the physical demands of playing matches with just two days' recovery. "First, we need to recover. Character will be paramount now," he stressed.
Can Livyi Bereh turn this tie around in the second leg? With both teams operating under the same tight schedule constraints, it may come down to which squad shows greater mental resilience after this first encounter.
