KROPYVNYTSKYI, Ukraine (April 3, 2026) (Interstat) — Substitute Mateus Amaral scored twice to help FK Oleksandriya rally for a 3-3 draw with SK Poltava in the Ukrainian Premier League season opener for both clubs Friday at Stadion Zirka.

Oleksandriya’s Bryan Castillo opened the scoring in the seventh minute, but Poltava responded with three straight goals. Amaral struck in the 31st and 37th minutes to equalize before halftime. Bohdan Kobzar put Poltava ahead again in the 60th, only for Dmytro Plakhtyr to secure the draw for Oleksandriya in the 72nd.

The result defied pre-match projections, as statistical models heavily favored a Poltava victory. Each team earned a point from the draw, beginning their league campaigns with identical records.