Dynamo beat Shakhtar in Ukraine cup final

Kiev: Dynamo Kiev won the Ukraine Cup on Thursday, beating bitter rivals Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 in the final in the north-eastern town of Poltava.

The match had originally been ordered to be played behind closed doors as authorities feared it could trigger more deadly clashes in a country beset by political unrest. But the national football federation had a change of heart after fans picketed their headquarters and allowed supporters to attend the game at Poltava`s 24,000-seater stadium. Shakhtar, who won the title for the ninth time last week, were caught cold in the 40th minute when defender Alexander Kucher put the ball in his own net from a corner. Dynamo doubled their lead before the break through Croatian defender Domagoi Vida, and although Shakhtar stepped up a gear after the interval with Brazilian midfielder Douglas Costa reducing the arrears in the 57th minute with a low shot, Dynamo held their nerve to lift the cup for the 10th time.