Dynamo leave it late to deny Stoke victory

Ognjen Vukojević's late equaliser secured a point for FC Dynamo Kyiv in their opening UEFA Europa Leage Group E match, after Cameron Jerome had put Stoke City FC in front in Kyiv.

Just when it seemed that Jerome's calm finish ten minutes after the break was enough for the Potters, Vukojević steered in Andriy Yarmolenko's cutback two minutes from time to earn a point for his side, but the Potters can take pride in having contained their experienced hosts for long spells.

The 13-time Ukranian champions almost went ahead after eight minutes when Andriy Shevchenko's curling effort whistled past a post with Thomas Sørensen rooted to the spot. The Denmark No1 was called into action moments later parrying Goran Popov's dipping strike, before Yarmolenko squandered the rebound. Some neat build-up play then resulted in an opening for Artem Milevskiy, but the Belarusian forward fired straight at Sørensen.

Stoke began the second half in positive fashion and were rewarded when the Stoke-born Ryan Shotton broke free of his man before teeing up the 25-year-old Jerome, who deliberated before finishing with precision to mark his debut for the club.

Dynamo pressed for an equaliser, with Shevchenko’s header finding the grateful arms of Sørensen before the Stoke goalkeeper expertly denied substitute Olexandr Aliyev, tipping his thundering effort round a post. Aliyev then struck the bar with a powerful drive, but Tony Pulis' men were undone at the death as Yarmolenko made strides down the left before his ball across goal was converted by Vukojević at the back post.