2025-26 PariMatch Premier League
The 2025 Ukrainian First League play-off final is set!
2 months ago - 5/26/2025 3:59 PM GMT-3
On Saturday 31 May at 18:00 EET at the NSC Olimpisky, Epicenter and Metalist Kharkiv will play each other in the 2025 Ukrainian First League play-off final. The winner gets the golden ticket and final place in the 2025/26 Ukrainian Premier League season.
Metalist Kharkiv who finished 3rd in the Ukrainian First League took on Desna Chernihiv in the semi-finals of the play-offs. In the first leg away, they managed to defeat Desna 1-0. Going into the second leg at the Metalist Stadium, they were very confident as by halftime they were 2-0 up on aggregate after leading 1-0 in the first 45. However, Desna Chernihiv managed to make a good come back and made it 2-1 on the night (2-2 on aggregate) and sent it to extra time. In extra time, Metalist scored what they thought was the winner before Desna instantly responded to make it 3-3 on aggregate and send it to penalties. On penalties, Metalist prevailed and won 6-5 on penalties to advance to the final.
Meanwhile Epicenter finished 4th in the Ukrainian First League, also like Metalist receiving a bye from the first round to the semi-finals. They took on Livyi Bereh Kyiv in the semi-finals. In the first leg away they managed to confidently win 3-1 against a 10-man team. In the second leg, they once again confidently won, winning 2-0 on the night and winning 5-1 on aggregate.
Metalist Kharkiv were also a big club in the Soviet era. They managed to win the Soviet First League twice, win three Soviet Cups and two Soviet Super Cups. Metalist Kharkiv have had a rich history in the top flight of Ukraine, particularly in the mid 2000s and early 2010s, qualifying for Europe on several occasions and even picking up a few bronze medals (3rd) while they were at it. However, their original club fell apart in the mid 2010s and a new club (Metalist 1925) was established. However, Metalist Kharkiv returned in 2018 and have since risen back to the Ukrainian professional football leagues. They were promoted in 2020-21 and spent three seasons in the Ukrainian Premier League (2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24) before getting relegated. They will be looking to make an instant return to the top flight.
Whereas, Epicenter have never played in the top flight of Ukrainian football and if they do win it will be their first time ever in the UPL in 2025-26. During the soviet times, they were always an amateur football club competing in the lower leagues of the Ukrainian regional championships. During the 1990s and 2000s they remained as an amateur club. However in 2010, after winning the Amateur League and making it to the Round of 16 of the Ukrainian Cup, they were admitted to the Ukrainian Second League, competing at the professional level for the first time in their history. They then spent their time in the Ukrainian Second League until 2016, where they got promoted to the Ukrainian First League where they remained until 2022. After the cancellation of the 2021-22 season, Epicenter withdrew for the 2022-23 season, but returned for the 2023-24 season. However, they were forced to compete in the Second League because the First League was full at the time of their application. However, it wasn't a problem as they gained promotion.
This particular match is one of the most important in Ukrainian football, as a spot would not only give you the right to compete in the top flight, you also get an incredible amount of prize money, which you can use to make your squad incredibly competitive in the top flight and help fund the club.
The game will be available to watch on UPL TV and Sxm Sports, they will also broadcast the game on youtube for free! Whatever happens, we wish both teams good luck for the game and may the best man win!
Metalist Kharkiv who finished 3rd in the Ukrainian First League took on Desna Chernihiv in the semi-finals of the play-offs. In the first leg away, they managed to defeat Desna 1-0. Going into the second leg at the Metalist Stadium, they were very confident as by halftime they were 2-0 up on aggregate after leading 1-0 in the first 45. However, Desna Chernihiv managed to make a good come back and made it 2-1 on the night (2-2 on aggregate) and sent it to extra time. In extra time, Metalist scored what they thought was the winner before Desna instantly responded to make it 3-3 on aggregate and send it to penalties. On penalties, Metalist prevailed and won 6-5 on penalties to advance to the final.
Meanwhile Epicenter finished 4th in the Ukrainian First League, also like Metalist receiving a bye from the first round to the semi-finals. They took on Livyi Bereh Kyiv in the semi-finals. In the first leg away they managed to confidently win 3-1 against a 10-man team. In the second leg, they once again confidently won, winning 2-0 on the night and winning 5-1 on aggregate.
Metalist Kharkiv were also a big club in the Soviet era. They managed to win the Soviet First League twice, win three Soviet Cups and two Soviet Super Cups. Metalist Kharkiv have had a rich history in the top flight of Ukraine, particularly in the mid 2000s and early 2010s, qualifying for Europe on several occasions and even picking up a few bronze medals (3rd) while they were at it. However, their original club fell apart in the mid 2010s and a new club (Metalist 1925) was established. However, Metalist Kharkiv returned in 2018 and have since risen back to the Ukrainian professional football leagues. They were promoted in 2020-21 and spent three seasons in the Ukrainian Premier League (2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24) before getting relegated. They will be looking to make an instant return to the top flight.
Whereas, Epicenter have never played in the top flight of Ukrainian football and if they do win it will be their first time ever in the UPL in 2025-26. During the soviet times, they were always an amateur football club competing in the lower leagues of the Ukrainian regional championships. During the 1990s and 2000s they remained as an amateur club. However in 2010, after winning the Amateur League and making it to the Round of 16 of the Ukrainian Cup, they were admitted to the Ukrainian Second League, competing at the professional level for the first time in their history. They then spent their time in the Ukrainian Second League until 2016, where they got promoted to the Ukrainian First League where they remained until 2022. After the cancellation of the 2021-22 season, Epicenter withdrew for the 2022-23 season, but returned for the 2023-24 season. However, they were forced to compete in the Second League because the First League was full at the time of their application. However, it wasn't a problem as they gained promotion.
This particular match is one of the most important in Ukrainian football, as a spot would not only give you the right to compete in the top flight, you also get an incredible amount of prize money, which you can use to make your squad incredibly competitive in the top flight and help fund the club.
The game will be available to watch on UPL TV and Sxm Sports, they will also broadcast the game on youtube for free! Whatever happens, we wish both teams good luck for the game and may the best man win!
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