Ukrainian Second League Season Review: Skala 1911 Stryi and Competition Results
The recent football season in the Ukrainian Second League provided a dramatic narrative of promotion battles, unexpected withdrawals, and high-stakes play-offs. From the grueling regular season to the decisive knockout stages, teams fought for a chance to ascend to the Ukrainian First League.
Central to the action was the competition between Group A and Group B, where teams vied for the top spots to qualify for the title and third-place play-offs. While some teams dominated their respective groups, others faced the heartbreak of withdrawal or narrow defeats in the final stages.
[no image]
Key Facts
- Probiy Horodenka won the league title after a penalty shootout against Kolos-2 Kovalivka.
- FC Chernihiv secured victory in the third-place play-offs with a 4–2 aggregate win over Skala 1911 Stryi.
- Rukh-2 Lviv finished 2nd in Group A but withdrew from the competition after the season.
- Skala 1911 Stryi achieved a 3rd place finish in Group A and reached the third-place final.
- The overall record for the featured campaign across all competitions included 23 matches, with 12 wins, 3 draws, and 8 losses.
League Performance and Standings
The Ukrainian Second League was divided into two primary groups. In Group A, Probiy Horodenka emerged as the leader with 41 points, followed by Rukh-2 Lviv and Skala 1911 Stryi, both finishing with 33 points. Skala 1911 Stryi secured the 3rd position based on the league's qualification criteria.
In Group B, Kolos-2 Kovalivka took the top spot with 39 points, while FC Chernihiv followed closely with 38 points. The competition was fierce, with only a few points separating the top four teams in both groups.
Competition Summary Table
| Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second League | 18 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 29 | 19 | +10 | 55.56% |
| Ukrainian Cup | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 50.00% |
| Third Place Play-offs | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 33.33% |
| Total | 23 | 12 | 3 | 8 | 38 | 27 | +11 | 52.17% |
The Road to Promotion: Play-offs and Drama
The path to the 2025–26 Ukrainian First League was complicated by administrative changes. Originally, a match between FC Chernihiv and Rukh-2 Lviv was scheduled. However, on May 21, 2025, the PFL Central Council announced that Rukh-2 Lviv had withdrawn. This led the Ukrainian Association of Football to allow the third-placed teams from both groups to compete to determine who would face FC Chernihiv.
The Title Final
The championship culminated in a tense encounter between Kolos-2 Kovalivka and Probiy Horodenka. After a 0–1 loss in the first leg and a 3–2 win in the second leg (after extra time), the aggregate score stood at 3–3. Probiy Horodenka eventually claimed the title, winning 4–3 on penalties.
Third Place Play-offs
Skala 1911 Stryi showed strong form in the preliminary round, defeating Lokomotyv Kyiv 4–1 on May 26, 2025. However, they struggled in the two-legged final against FC Chernihiv. Chernihiv won the first leg 3–2 and the second leg 1–0, resulting in a 4–2 aggregate victory.
[no image]
Ukrainian Cup Campaign
Outside of league play, the Ukrainian Cup provided a brief but intense challenge. In the Round of 64, FC Skala Stryi secured a 2–0 victory over Epitsentr on August 3, 2024, with goals from Averyanov and Yanata. Their journey ended on August 12, 2024, following a 1–3 defeat against Mynai.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Ukrainian Second League title?
Probiy Horodenka won the title after defeating Kolos-2 Kovalivka 4–3 on penalties following a 3–3 aggregate draw.
Why did the play-off matchups change in May 2025?
The matchups were altered because Rukh-2 Lviv withdrew from the competition, leading the Ukrainian Association of Football to reorganize the third-place play-offs.
How did Skala 1911 Stryi perform in the third-place play-offs?
Skala 1911 Stryi defeated Lokomotyv Kyiv 4–1 in the preliminary round but lost the final to FC Chernihiv with an aggregate score of 4–2.
What was the result of the Ukrainian Cup match between FC Skala Stryi and Epitsentr?
FC Skala Stryi won the match 2–0 on August 3, 2024.
Which teams withdrew from the league after the season?
Rukh-2 Lviv, Revera 1908 Ivano-Frankivsk, Metalist 1925-2 Kharkiv, and Vorskla-2 Poltava all withdrew after the season.