Kalinovka thrashed Metalist 1925 Kharkiv 9-0 in the Round of 64 of the Cup on Friday evening. The visitors made light work of their task at the Olympic Stadium in Kharkiv, where the hosts had struggled to find any rhythm. It was a thorough dismantling from start to finish.
C. Paraco opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time, catching the home defence asleep. Kalinovka came out after the break with renewed purpose, and I. Kalyuzhnyi doubled the lead just six minutes into the second half. By then, Metalist 1925 were already looking shell-shocked.
The goals kept coming in quick succession. P. Itodo made it three, followed almost immediately by A. Smolyakov's fourth. E. Rashica added a fifth before the hour was out, and B. Zabergja completed the scoring for Kalinovka's six goals. B. Sydorenko then turned the screw further with an own goal at the other end.
There was a goal at 77 minutes, though the scorer was not listed in the match report. D. Antyukh then made it eight, before S. Castillo sealed the rout with a ninth on full time. The hosts managed nothing in return, and the match ended with a scoreline that reflected the gulf in quality.
Metalist 1925 have now lost four of their last five matches, including this Cup defeat. They came into the fixture after a 1-0 victory over Veres Rovno, but that result offered little comfort against Kalinovka's ruthless display. They cannot afford another slip if they want to stay competitive.
Kalinovka's performance was clinical. They found a way through the home defence time and again, and there is unrest in the dressing room at Metalist 1925 as a result. The visitors saw it out with composure and will take confidence from this result.