\nDnipropetrovsk's "Dnipro" lost away to French "Marseille" with a minimal score of 1:0 in the first match of the 1/16 finals of the UEFA Cup. Kucharevsky's charges were in no way inferior to the hosts, and in the first half they even looked more dominant. The winning goal in the 55th minute from a dubious penalty was scored by Didier Drogba. \n \nKnowing all the personnel problems of "Dnipro," the opening match, as expected, took place under the furious pressure of the hosts, who tried to crush the Ukrainian club right from the start. In the 2nd minute of the match, the very first attack on Kernozenko's goal nearly ended in a goal. The "Dnipro" goalkeeper punched the ball away with his fists after a cross into his penalty area, but on its way it hit Matyukhin and deflected off him to Marlet, who from a advantageous position about 10 meters out managed to shoot over the crossbar. Four minutes later, only Kernozenko's reaction saved "Dnipro" from a goal after a header from Drogba into the corner of the goal, and before that the ex-kyiv "Dynamo" keeper parried a shot from Ferreira. \n \nDespite all this pressure from the French, the Ukrainians were not intimidated. The battle raged on every patch of the field, and "Dnipro" players threw themselves, as if onto an embrasure, at any ball that flew toward their goal. It seems that such a fighting spirit of the guests somewhat discouraged the Marseille players, who began to think more about defending their own goal. And the credit for this goes to the Dnipro players, who, playing practically without a forward, created danger near the goal of the shaven-headed Barthez. \n \nIn the 14th minute, Nazarenko's slalom run into the "Marseille" penalty area found Rykun after a ricochet of the ball, but Barthez was quicker than the Ukrainian. However, two minutes later only fortune saved "Marseille" from a certain goal. After a ricochet in the guests' penalty area, Yezersky on the volley from about 12 meters with a powerful shot shook Barthez's goalpost, who merely watched the leather ball with his eyes. The follow-up shot by Matyukhin was more inaccurate. \n \nFrom about the 20th minute until the end of the first half, "Dnipro" looked much better than the hosts. The Dnipro players acted well in defense, pressed all over the field, and also attacked themselves. In the 21st minute, Rykun and Kostyshyn went two-on-one against a defender, but Ferreira timely pushed Rykun away from the ball. In the first half, dangerous shots were taken by Nazarenko — over the goal, and Matyukhin and Mykhaylenko — near the post. \n \nFor "Marseille," Drogba had a dangerous shot, who, incidentally, was barely noticeable in the first half of the game. The same can be said about Ruslan Rotan. \n \n"Dnipro" started the second half of the match with attacks. Shalayev and Nazarenko made several dangerous crosses, but there was no one to finish them... In the 52nd minute, Drogba reminded everyone of himself, as he broke through "Dnipro's" defense and with a powerful shot from about 6 meters hit the crossbar. This time fortune was already on the side of Kucherevsky's team. \n \nThe 55th minute of this match became decisive in the game and the score. Matyukhin, in one of the hosts' attacks, while chasing Marlet, held him by the sleeve of his shirt. Moreover, Marlet did not fall. The match referee Klaus Bo Larsen from Denmark saw in this moment the most serious violation of the rules, awarding a penalty against Kernozenko's goal. Now one can argue for a long time whether it was a penalty? However, the fact is one — Matyukhin was holding Marlet, but whether this moment deserved an 11-meter kick is another matter. Perhaps if "Real" were playing against "Marseille," the referee would not have noticed this episode, but here it's "Dnipro," Ukraine... One can let it slide. All the more offensive is that such episodes are countless in all games without exception. But this is only a lesson that one must play not only against teams but also against referees.... \n \nThe referee's verdict was executed without any particular problems by Drogba, who sent the ball into the opposite corner from Kernozenko — 1:0. \n \nAfter the conceded goal, the "Dnipro" players, who had been flying as if on wings until then, seemed to deflate both psychologically and, most importantly, physically. The first game of the season took its toll already around the 60th minute. Kucherevsky's charges made many mistakes in passing, and at the same time nothing worked for them in attack. Meanwhile, "Marseille" had several real chances to increase the score. The most dangerous moment arose in the 72nd minute when Marlet went one-on-one but failed to beat Kernozenko, who played quite reliably in this game. \n \nIn the last minute of regular time, Rotan tried to save the team with a shot from about 22 meters, however, for Barthez such shots are easy prey. \n \nOverall regarding the game, there is a more fan-oriented term — the team did not deserve defeat. This is about "Dnipro." One, however, significant conclusion is that one can play against "Marseille," and even win. Moreover, the problems in the French team's game are no fewer than in "Dnipro's," and possibly more. As for "Dnipro," in the game against "Marseille" the team seems to have squeezed out of itself everything it was capable of. However, whether this will be enough for victory on March 3 in Dnipropetrovsk in the return match — not a certainty. Although the "Dnipro" players at the "Velodrome" demonstrated that they can play even without Venhlinsky, the main thing is that the referees don't "help." \n \n"Marseille" (France) — "Dnipro" (Ukraine) - 1:0Goal: Drogba 55 - from a penalty \n"Dnipro": Kernozenko, Rusol, Matyukhin, Yezersky, Shelayev, Nazarenko, Rykun, Maksymyuk (Radchenko 69), Rotan, Mykhaylenko (Hrytsay 79), Kostyshyn (Semochko 87). \n"Marseille": - Barthez, Ferreira, Bey, Hemdani, Meritem, Da Santos — Meriem Celestini, Ndiaye (Flamini 69) — Drogba (Mido 66), Marlet (Cissé 86). \n \n