Ukraine round-up: Chornomorets surprise champions

FC Chornomorets Odesa shocked Ukrainian Premier League champions FC Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 to reduce the title-holders' lead to four points and move out of last place.

Balabanov double
Ukrainian Under-21 international striker Konstantin Balabanov opened the scoring on 48 minutes, and the same player clinched the victory six minutes from the end after a fine passing move. It could have been worse for Shakhtar, but Dmytro Shutkov saved a penalty from Alexandr Khvostunov - awarded for a foul on Balabanov.

Dynamo triumph
FC Dynamo Kyiv took the opportunity to reduce the gap at the top as they won 1-0 at FC Illichivets Mariupil. Diogo Rincón scored for the fourth game in a row, although FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk are just a point behind Dynamo in third place after securing a 1-0 win against struggling FC Metalurh Zaporizhya through Serhiy Nazarenko's 14th-minute penalty.

Late winner
Shalva Apkhazava's late winner gave FC Arsenal Kyiv a 2-1 win against FC Karpaty Lviv, to keep them in fourth ahead of FC Metalurh Donetsk, who were trailing FC Volyn Lutsk with nine minutes to go before Serhiy Zakarliujka scored twice to earn them victory.

Vorskla slip
Elsewhere, FC Vorskla Poltava fell to last place as they lost 1-0 against FC Obolon Kyiv, while FC Metalist Kharkiv beat FC Tavriya Simferopol by the same score through Vitaliy Pushkutsa's late free-kick and FC Olexandriya held FC Kryvbas Kryviy Rih to a 0-0 draw.