Tishkovka secured a 2:1 victory over Vilkhivtsi Ivano-Frankivsk in the Round of 64 of the Cup, played on Saturday evening. The hosts took control early, with R. Dytko finding the net in the twentieth minute, and held on despite a spirited response from the visitors. Y. Karanga sealed the result with a late strike in the eighty-fifth minute, ending Vilkhivtsi's hopes of progression.
There was no let-up once the opening goal landed. Dytko's effort gave the home side momentum, and they maintained pressure throughout the first half. To be fair, Vilkhivtsi did not crumble under it, but they lacked the cutting edge to trouble the Tishkovka defence. The visitors' best chance came when P. Zamurenko pulled one back in the fifty-seventh minute, turning the tie on its head.
That equaliser changed the complexion of the game. Tishkovka had to raise their tempo, and they did just that. By then, the match had settled into a pattern of end-to-end exchanges, with both sides looking for a winner. The home side's intensity paid off when Karanga went over the line in the eighty-fifth minute, silencing the away support.
The result extends Tishkovka's recent habit of grinding out results. Their last three outings all ended 1:1, against Yarud Mariupol, Chornomorets, and Epitsentr Dnistrovsk. This victory breaks that streak, and more importantly, it keeps them alive in the Cup. Vilkhivtsi, meanwhile, exit at the first hurdle with nothing to show for their efforts.
Tishkovka advance to the next round, where they will face another challenge. The goal difference remains unchanged, but the psychological boost of a last-minute winner could prove vital. They have shown they can close out a tight game, something they may need as the tournament progresses.