Metalur Kherson took a crucial three points when they beat UKSA 3:1 in their Regular Season-6 match of the First League on Saturday. The home side had been building momentum from a run of results and this victory helped them keep pace with those above them in the table.
Khoblenko opened the scoring in the 26th minute and the hosts looked comfortable for a while before Vernattus dragged UKSA back into the contest just before the break with a goal in the 42nd minute. Digtyar restored Metalur's lead early in the second half and that proved to be the turning point.
Metalur held firm after that and added insurance through Porokh in the first minute of stoppage time. By then the game had settled into a pattern where the home side controlled the rhythm while UKSA searched for something to change their fortunes.
There were plenty of changes made by both managers as the match wore on. Metalur brought on Andrushchenko at the restart and later introduced Sytnykov and Vitinho, while UKSA tried to shake things up with Sklyar, Orikhovskyi, Sabiyev and Tsvirenko coming off the bench.
Discipline became an issue toward the end with four yellow cards shown. Porokh picked up his booking in the 73rd minute, Sabiyev was cautioned in the 80th, Yuvkhymets went into the referee's book in the 90th, and Zhdanovych received his card alongside Porokh's goal.
Metalur now sit sixth with 10 points from six games. The result extends their recent form which had included draws and wins, and puts them two points clear of UKSA who remain in 12th place on six points.