UECL first leg
Thursday, April 30, 2026
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Shakhtar hosted England’s Crystal Palace in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League semi-finals
Shakhtar head coach Miners Arda Turan selected the following line-up for the encounter: Riznyk was in goal, Matviienko and Bondar started in central defence, Vinicius Tobias and Pedro Henrique operated on the flanks, Ocheretko, Pedrinho and Marlon Gomes formed the midfield, Alisson and Eguinaldo were deployed as wingers, with Kaua Elias playing as centre-forward.
A quick early goal influenced the game
The match started extremely poorly for the Pitmen: already in the first minute, the English side won a series of aerial challenges in midfield, Mateta, operating on the right side of the penalty area, set up Sarr, who placed the ball into the far corner to open the scoring. Moments later, Wharton could have doubled the visitors’ lead, but his shot into the bottom corner was saved by Riznyk. However, the Orange-and-Blacks quickly took control and began pressing the London side. After a shot from Eguinaldo inside the box, the ball struck Lacroix’s hand, but the referee did not award a penalty. Shortly after, Eguinaldo attempted an acrobatic finish from close range but failed to make proper contact with the ball. Kaua Elias tried several long-range efforts, but his shots were blocked by defenders. The visitors continued to defend with almost the entire team inside their own penalty area, and midway through the half the statistics clearly reflected Shakhtar’s dominance – 66% possession, 6-0 in corners and a twofold advantage in passes. Towards the break, the tempo dropped slightly due to fouls and stoppages, which suited the English side, allowing them to push Shakhtar further away from their own goal. The teams still exchanged dangerous chances, with Pedro Henrique’s cross and a threatening low ball from Muñoz, but neither was converted.
Ocheretko restored parity, but the opponents scored twice more
At the start of the second half, Shakhtar managed to equalise: in the 47th minute, Pedrinho delivered a corner from the left, Kaua Elias headed the ball across the goal area at the near post and Oleh Ocheretko finished first time to send it into the net – 1-1. Almost immediately, Eguinaldo had a chance to put the Ukrainian side ahead, but his shot from the left side of the box was blocked by Munoz. After that, the London side took control, and following efforts from Mateta and Sarr inside the box, Riznyk made outstanding saves to keep the hosts in the game, while Mateta also struck the post on another occasion. The pressure from the visitors eventually paid off, and in the 58th minute, following a throw-in, the ball dropped into the centre of the box where Kamada struck powerfully into the left corner. The Orange-and-Blacks pushed forward again in numbers. A penalty appeal for Marlon Gomes after a collision with Munoz was waved away by the referee. Eguinaldo had another chance, heading a cross from Vinicius Tobias just over the crossbar. Alisson cut in from the right flank in his signature style and shot towards the near post, but Henderson pushed it away for a corner. Isaque, coming off the bench, struck from the left side of the box but hit Sarr. The Pitmen continued to attack relentlessly, with Bondarenko, Newertton, Nazaryna and Traore all coming on. However, in the 84th minute, Arda Turan’s side were caught on the counterattack: Strand Larsen ran through the centre and finished past Riznyk. Captain Matviienko had a chance to reduce the deficit, meeting Nazaryna’s free-kick with a header, but he narrowly missed the left corner. 1-3 – Shakhtar lost to Crystal Palace in the first game of the semi-final tie.
The UEFA Conference League semi-final return leg between Crystal Palace and Shakhtar will take place in London on May 7. The clash at the Selhurst Park kicks off at 22:00 Kyiv time.
Already this coming Sunday, May 3, the Miners face the Ukrainian Clasico. Arda Turan’s side will play away against Dynamo Kyiv in the UPL round 26. The game kicks off at 18:00.
Shakhtar Donetsk 1-3 (0-1) Crystal Palace London
Kraków, Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium, att.: 29,842
Goals: 0-1 Sarr (1′), 1-1 Ocheretko (47′), 1-2 Kamada (58′), 1-3 Strand Larsen (84′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Vinicius Tobias, Bondar, Matviienko (c), Pedro Henrique, Ocheretko (Nazaryna 83′), Pedrinho (Bondarenko 74′), Marlon Gomes (Isaque 65′), Alisson, Eguinaldo (Newertton 74′), Kaua Elias (Traore 83′)
A quick early goal influenced the game
The match started extremely poorly for the Pitmen: already in the first minute, the English side won a series of aerial challenges in midfield, Mateta, operating on the right side of the penalty area, set up Sarr, who placed the ball into the far corner to open the scoring. Moments later, Wharton could have doubled the visitors’ lead, but his shot into the bottom corner was saved by Riznyk. However, the Orange-and-Blacks quickly took control and began pressing the London side. After a shot from Eguinaldo inside the box, the ball struck Lacroix’s hand, but the referee did not award a penalty. Shortly after, Eguinaldo attempted an acrobatic finish from close range but failed to make proper contact with the ball. Kaua Elias tried several long-range efforts, but his shots were blocked by defenders. The visitors continued to defend with almost the entire team inside their own penalty area, and midway through the half the statistics clearly reflected Shakhtar’s dominance – 66% possession, 6-0 in corners and a twofold advantage in passes. Towards the break, the tempo dropped slightly due to fouls and stoppages, which suited the English side, allowing them to push Shakhtar further away from their own goal. The teams still exchanged dangerous chances, with Pedro Henrique’s cross and a threatening low ball from Muñoz, but neither was converted.
Ocheretko restored parity, but the opponents scored twice more
At the start of the second half, Shakhtar managed to equalise: in the 47th minute, Pedrinho delivered a corner from the left, Kaua Elias headed the ball across the goal area at the near post and Oleh Ocheretko finished first time to send it into the net – 1-1. Almost immediately, Eguinaldo had a chance to put the Ukrainian side ahead, but his shot from the left side of the box was blocked by Munoz. After that, the London side took control, and following efforts from Mateta and Sarr inside the box, Riznyk made outstanding saves to keep the hosts in the game, while Mateta also struck the post on another occasion. The pressure from the visitors eventually paid off, and in the 58th minute, following a throw-in, the ball dropped into the centre of the box where Kamada struck powerfully into the left corner. The Orange-and-Blacks pushed forward again in numbers. A penalty appeal for Marlon Gomes after a collision with Munoz was waved away by the referee. Eguinaldo had another chance, heading a cross from Vinicius Tobias just over the crossbar. Alisson cut in from the right flank in his signature style and shot towards the near post, but Henderson pushed it away for a corner. Isaque, coming off the bench, struck from the left side of the box but hit Sarr. The Pitmen continued to attack relentlessly, with Bondarenko, Newertton, Nazaryna and Traore all coming on. However, in the 84th minute, Arda Turan’s side were caught on the counterattack: Strand Larsen ran through the centre and finished past Riznyk. Captain Matviienko had a chance to reduce the deficit, meeting Nazaryna’s free-kick with a header, but he narrowly missed the left corner. 1-3 – Shakhtar lost to Crystal Palace in the first game of the semi-final tie.
The UEFA Conference League semi-final return leg between Crystal Palace and Shakhtar will take place in London on May 7. The clash at the Selhurst Park kicks off at 22:00 Kyiv time.
Already this coming Sunday, May 3, the Miners face the Ukrainian Clasico. Arda Turan’s side will play away against Dynamo Kyiv in the UPL round 26. The game kicks off at 18:00.
Shakhtar Donetsk 1-3 (0-1) Crystal Palace London
Kraków, Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium, att.: 29,842
Goals: 0-1 Sarr (1′), 1-1 Ocheretko (47′), 1-2 Kamada (58′), 1-3 Strand Larsen (84′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Vinicius Tobias, Bondar, Matviienko (c), Pedro Henrique, Ocheretko (Nazaryna 83′), Pedrinho (Bondarenko 74′), Marlon Gomes (Isaque 65′), Alisson, Eguinaldo (Newertton 74′), Kaua Elias (Traore 83′)
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