UPL PREDICTOR MATCHDAY 2
What a week of football it’s been. Dynamo Kyiv narrowly won the Super Cup in Odesa last weekend. FC Lviv rose to the top of the UPL table and Chornomorets got a shock win against Olimpik Donetsk! FC Mariupol began their pursuit of a Europa League group stage spot by drawing their first leg 1-1 away to Djurgarden of Sweden. There were also some highs and lows for the Ukraine U19 side who qualified for next years FIFA U20 World Cup in Poland. Having topped their group in the EURO U19 Championships, they were then heavily beaten in the semi final 5-0 by a superior Portugal team. All the UPL sides will have to put last week’s results to one side and push on with the continuing new season as we enter Matchday 2. With no draws in the last round of fixtures is it possible that this phenomena can carry on into this week? Let’s hope so!
Andrew Todos of Zorya Londonsk Weekly will be making predictions for every UPL game this season, against a variety of guests.
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| Jack Cowap (L) & James Deacon (R) – Rylands Heath |
Our second guest of the 2018 – 19 campaign is Jack Cowap, one half of the Luton based indie pop duo ‘Rylands Heath’. Jack and his college friend, James Deacon, started the group in 2016. Since then they’ve played at Birmingham’s ValeFest on multiple occasions, supported the Marsicans, performed at Jimmy’s Festival in Ipswich and were one of the opening acts for the 2017/18 Luton Town FC promotion celebration in the town centre. Commenting on this Jack says “Yeah we’ve been lucky to do some really cool shows— the Luton celebration was probably the biggest crowd we’ve played to so was really cool. We even threw in some football chants for the locals (Woke up this morning feeling fine / I’ve got promotion on my mind / Nathan’s taking us up like he said he would…)” No doubt a classic on the terraces of Kenilworth Road! Asked about what’s coming up in the near future for Rylands Heath, Jack replied “We’ve been fairly quiet at the moment, just writing and planning for post-Uni activities! But we have got a gig coming up on 17th Aug in High Wycombe with a really cool band Only Sun who’ve got a sound I really love.” Onwards and upwards lads!
Alongside his musical talents, Jack is a passionate follower of football. He’s a big Liverpool fan but also regularly keeps tabs on his local Luton Town side. Now he’s finished university he hopes to get to see more Luton games, revealing that the downside of Liverpool excelling under Klopp has meant it’s much harder to get tickets for Anfield. As a result it’s an easier option to stay local.
With Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, being host to Liverpool’s Champions League final humiliation in May, Jack was asked whether the Merseyside outfit could build on this for the coming season. He said “It was a very tough night for me watching it down the pub (accompanied by none other than Mr Todos). I feel bad for Karius but you can’t complain when you splash £60 million on a new keeper alongside Keita and Fabinho. As a result I think we can come back stronger this year.” Unfortunately for Jack and Liverpool, they face Andriy Yarmolenko’s West Ham in their Premier League season opener, so it’s certain that last season’s despair will carry on until at least the Premier League’s second week!
Finally we asked Jack about his knowledge of the UPL and Ukrainian football in general. He admitted “I don’t know too much but having lived with Andrew during my time at university meant I got a little bit of information every now and then. However, now this new blog is up and running I’m sure I’ll be an expert in no time!”
RYLANDS HEATH SOCIAL LINKS:
Go and give Jack Cowap and Rylands Heath a follow and like by clicking the links to their various social media pages found below and also check out their Spotify and Youtube Channel for more of a listen to their music:
🎸Rylands Heath website
🎵Rylands Heath on IG
🎤Jack Cowap on IG
🎶Rylands Heath on Twitter
🎹Rylands Heath on Facebook
🎥Rylands Heath Youtube Channel
🎧Rylands Heath on Spotify
PREDICTION ZONE
A correct result (WIN / DRAW/ DEFEAT) is worth 10 points. The exact score earns an extra 40 points.
SATURDAY
Oleksandriya v Zorya Luhansk
Todos’ prediction: 1-2 – Oleksandriya will put up a fight but Zorya’s extra quality will see them over the line with back to back wins.
Jack’s prediction: 2-0
RESULT: 1-0 – BANADA (85′)
FC Lviv v Dynamo Kyiv
Todos’ prediction: 0-2 – Dynamo looked promising against Vorskla midweek but the awful weather prevented any real football from being played. Dynamo should win comfortably at the Arena Lviv.
Jack’s prediction: 1-0 – Jack predicts a big shock in this game! He justifies his hunch by saying “Luton Airport are running new flights to Lviv from this summer so they could become my team. Also got to have at least one upset.”
RESULT: 0-1 – RUSYN (90+2′)
SUNDAY
Karpaty Lviv v Chornomorets Odesa
Todos’ prediction: 3-0 – After the disappointing result Karpaty got last week, they’ll be wanting to bounce back with a confident win against an early overachieving Odesa side.
Jack’s prediction: 2-2 – “It’s going to be an open game with someone giving up a 2-0 lead (the most dangerous score line in football).”
RESULT: 1-0 – SHVED (16′)
Olimpik Donetsk v Vorskla Poltava
Todos’ prediction: 1-1 – Definitely won’t be the most entertaining game but both sides have some good forwards so I see a score draw.
Jack’s prediction: 0-0 – “This one is going to be a snoozefest and both will remain without a win.”
RESULT: 1-0 – BALASHOV (52′)
Mariupol v Desna Chernihiv
Todos’ prediction: 0-1 – Desna showed determination despite losing to Shakhtar last time out and with Mariupol having one eye on their Europa League second leg on Thursday, the Chernihiv outfit will look to get their first ever UPL three points.
Jack’s prediction: 2-1 – A close game just edged out by Mariupol
RESULT: 1-4 – VAKULA (68′) / KHLYOBAS (3′,22′), FILIPPOV (59′,78′)
Shakhtar Donetsk v Arsenal Kyiv
Todos’ prediction: 5-0 – Shakhtar will be non repentant as they dismantle Ravanelli’s poor Arsenal team.
Jack’s prediction: 4-0 – A second convincing win from the defending Champions.
RESULT: 3-0 – MORAES (10′), FERNANDO (32′), TAISON (37′)
MATCHDAY 2 – H2H WINNER: ANDREW TODOS
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GUEST LEADERBOARD
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Total scores after week 2
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Todos
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80
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Guests
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90
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Todos v Guests
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P2
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W1
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D0
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L1
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ZORYA LONDONSK 