Braga 2-4 Shakhtar

December 8, 2016. Braga. Estádio Municipal de Braga. Att: 15,084. 18^oC.

Goals: 0-1 Kryvtsov (22), 0-2 Taison (39), 1-2 Stoiljkovic (43), 1-3 Kryvtsov (62), 1-4 Taison (66), 2-4 Vukčević (89)

Braga: Marafona, Bahia, Rosic, Andre Pinto (c), Goiano, Vukcevic, Pedro Tiba, Wilson Eduardo (Benitez, 66), Fonte (Hassan, 58), Horta, Stoiljkovic (Alan, 70)

Unused subs: Matheus, Djavan, Artur Jorge, Bakic

Head coach: Jose Peseiro

Shakhtar: Shevchenko, Butko, Kryvtsov, Ordets, Matviienko, Malyshev, Tankovskyi (Fred, 61), Marlos (Bernard, 58), Dentinho, Taison (c), Boriachuk (Ferreyra, 66)

Unused subs: Kanibolotskyi, Kucher, Kobin, Kovalenko

Head coach: Paulo Fonseca

Booked: Tankovskyi (57), Kryvtsov (67), Taison (74), Vukcevic (75), Dentinho (75)

Referee: Ali Palabıyık (TUR)

Before the match

As Shakhtar head coach Paulo Fonseca promised at the press conference, the players who had not appeared on the pitch that often got their chance. So, for the first time this season, the defensive third was as follows: Bohdan Butko, Serhii Kryvtsov, Ivan Ordets and Mykola Matviienko. Mykyta Shevchenko got his place between the sticks, with Andrii Boriachuk being deployed as a lone striker. With the captain's armband on, Taison led his teammates onto the pitch.

The Pitmen responded to the hosts’ brisk start with cool control of the ball. In the 6th minute, Dentinho brought Andrii Boriachuk through on goal, but the goalkeeper was just an instance faster than the Donetsk forward. The Portuguese responded towards the middle of the half, when Mykyta Shevchenko had to come to the team’s rescue twice following the opponents’ long-range shots. Shortly after that, they opened the scoring. On 22 minutes, Marlos delivered a corner, with Serhiy Kryvtsov producing a powerful shot on target. Marafona showed his quick reflexes, but the ball bounced off his palms and into the back of the net. This is Kryvtsov’s debut goal in European competitions, with him becoming Shakhtar’s 11th player to put his name on the scoresheet in the current Europa League campaign. The Orange-and-Blacks gave the initiative away for some time, not ceasing to launch dangerous counterattacking moves. In one of them, Vyacheslav Tankovskyi produced a great diagonal pass to Mykola Matviienko. The left-back crossed it into the penalty area with his second touch, with Andrii Boriachuk failing to hit the ball accurately. Nevertheless, just the visitors’ next attacking move brought Paulo Fonseca’s charges success. On 39 minutes, Marlos played well individually and fed Taison, with the captain leaving the goalie with no chance and sending the ball right into the far corner. In the end of the first half, Braga managed to pull one back. After Horta’s delivery, Stoiljkovic fired one home.

After the break, the Pitmen regained the territorial advantage, controlling the ball for long periods and deploying nearly all attacking players. Andrii Boriachuk could have scored one in the 57th minute. Taison brought him through on goal, but the 20-year-old striker's attempt went just wide. Shortly after that, Paulo Fonseca made substitutions. First, Bernard came on for Marlos, with Fred replacing Viacheslav Tankovskyi a bit later. Shakhtar’s number eight assisted on 62 minutes. Serhiy Kryvtsov perfectly headed home his set piece to claim a brace. It did not take Shakhtar long time to upset the host goalkeeper again. This time, Taison netted one. The Brazilian ran down the left wing towards the home goal and pushed the ball home under Marafona’s leg. Immediately after the goal, Facundo Ferreyra replaced Andrii Boriachuk. In the remaining time before the final whistle, the game settled down. The Orange-and-Blacks tried to control the course of events. However, in the 89th minute the visitors missed an attacking move which was rounded off with Vukcevic’s precision shot. As a result, the referee registered a 4-2 win for Shakhtar.

Thus, for the first time in their history, the Donetsk side have produced a 100% result in the European club cup group stage, claiming six wins in six matches. The charges of Paulo Fonseca will know their Europa League Round of 32 opponents on December 12. The draw for this stage will be held in Nyon, Switzerland, starting at 14:00 Ukrainian time (EET).

The Pitmen will have their next game in Kyiv on December 12. In the final match of the calendar year, the Orange-and-Blacks will lock horns with Dynamo in the major game of the Premier League Round 18.