Oleksandr Pyshchur scored his first goal for Girona in a Copa del Rei win against Cuarte, breaking a drought that spanned eight league matches, multiple friendlies, and a quiet pre-season following his summer transfer from the Hungarian club Eto for nearly 1 million euros.
How the Breakthrough Goal Against Cuarte Unfolded
The decisive moment arrived in the 60th minute at Cuarte. Following a corner kick, teammate Van de Beek directed a ball across the face of goal, leaving the 21-year-old Ukrainian striker with a simple tap-in practically on the goal line. While the finish lacked aesthetic flair, it provided the practical contribution Girona’s coaching staff has sought during the forward’s integration into an environment totally different from what he knew until now.
Pyshchur played 74 minutes in the cup tie, partnering Abel Ruiz in attack before being substituted. Prior to this fixture, his only starting appearance in the league came on October 18 in a victory over Andorra at Montilivi. His overall statistics remain modest, logging 248 minutes in Segunda División with eight total shots—including a late-game effort against Las Palmas in Matchday 3 that struck the crossbar.
Tactical Adaptation and Physical Duels in Segunda División
Quique Cárcel and Quique Álvarez have repeatedly emphasized that the young forward requires time to adapt to Girona and a new environment. Despite low shot totals, data from FotMob indicates Pyshchur has demonstrated defensive utility and aerial strength, winning 25 duels overall—a success rate of 55.6%—and 17 aerial duels, translating to an 81% success rate.
🎯🇺🇦 El primer amb la blanc-i-vermella! pic.twitter.com/G6bYRvs7BR
Areas for improvement remain clear in his underlying metrics. The striker has touched the ball just 11 times inside the opponent’s penalty area, lost possession six times, and drawn seven fouls. Conversely, he has recovered four balls—one in the attacking third—while contributing nine defensive actions and collecting two yellow cards along the way.
Portu Reaches 200 Appearances Milestone for Girona
The cup fixture also marked a significant personal milestone for Cristián Portugués, who made his 200th appearance for the club during his seventh season at the entity. Portu returned to the starting lineup for the first time since October 28, 2025, when he started against Constància—a match that occurred almost exactly a year prior to the Cuarte tie, following a ten-month layoff due to a severe injury sustained against Albacete in September.
With the victory over Tercera RFEF side Cuarte, Girona avoided the type of early-round cup upsets that troubled them in previous seasons, such as last year’s match against Constància and subsequent elimination by a Primera RFEF side at Ourense.
League Standings and the Twelve Goalscorers
Pyshchur’s strike makes him the twelfth different player to score for Girona this season. Yáser Asprilla and Vladyslav Vanat lead the team scoring charts with five goals each, followed by Abel Ruiz and Carles Péren with three apiece. Junior Holmes, Bryan Gil, Fran Beltrán, Izan González, Van de Beek, Unai Hernández, Jastin Garcia, and the towering Ukrainian forward have each contributed one.
In Segunda División play, Girona has netted 22 goals across 11 matches, making them the joint-highest scoring team in the division alongside Castellón and Eibar, who currently occupy the two automatic promotion spots.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Girona pay to sign Oleksandr Pyshchur?
Girona acquired the 21-year-old forward from the Hungarian club Eto this past summer for a transfer fee of nearly 1 million euros.
What was Pyshchur’s role in the Copa del Rei match against Cuarte?
Pyshchur started alongside Abel Ruiz, played 74 minutes, and scored his first goal for the club in the 60th minute by converting a knockdown from Van de Beek.
How many players have scored for Girona this season?
Pyshchur’s goal against Cuarte brought the club’s total list of goalscorers to twelve players, with Vladyslav Vanat and Yáser Asprilla leading the squad with five goals each.
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