Shakhtar 2-1 Karpaty

November 19, 2016. Kharkiv. OSC Metalist. Att: 10,611. -1 ^oC.

Goals: 1-0 Srna (10), 1-1 Ksyonz (19, pen.), 2-1 Ferreyra (77)

Missed penalty: Srna (45+2)

Shakhtar: Pyatov, Srna (c), Kucher, Rakitskyy, Ismaily, Stepanenko (Malyshev, 13), Fred, Marlos, Kovalenko (Dentinho, 65), Bernard (Taison, 65), Ferreyra

Unused subs: Shevchenko, Butko, Ordets, Boriachuk

Head coach: Paulo Fonseca

Karpaty: Pidkivka, Miroshnychenko, Zubeiko, Lobai, Kravets, Klyots, Verbnyi, Ksyonz, Khudobyak (c) (Kadymyan, 90+2), Kostevych (Hrysio, 80), Blanco Leshchuk

Unused subs: Mysak, Senytsia, Chachua, Yaroshenko, Chumak

Head coach: Oleh Dulub

Booked: Malyshev (16), Pyatov (18), Ksyonz (39), Bernard (42), Zubeiko (59), Srna (65)

Sent off: Ksyonz (47, second yellow card)

Referee: Serhii Boyko (Kyiv Oblast)

After a two-week break due to international duty, the Pitmen received Karpaty in Kharkiv. There have been three changes in Shakhtar compared to the recent game in Oleksandriya (2-1). Yaroslav Rakitskyy is back with the team after suspension, Viktor Kovalenko is back to form after injury, Taras Stepanenko is back to his regular role in the holding area. This game against Lviv is Paulo Fonseca’s 25th one.

Early in the game, the Orange-and-Blacks launched a few lasting attacks. The Pitmen pressed the opponents against the latter’s box, scoring the opener on 10 minutes. Bernard played very well down the left wing and produced a diagonal cross. The running Darijo Srna fired a volley to make it 1-0. On 13 minutes, Taras Stepanenko got injured and was replaced by Maksym Malyshev. Shortly afterwards, the visitors responded with a dangerous counterattack and a goal, although the linesman flagged Ihor Khudobyak offside. On 18 minutes, the score got even. The referee found a violation of rules in Andriy Pyatov’s aerial challenge, with Pavlo Ksyonz converting the spot kick. Then, the game took part in one and the same half of the pitch. The Pitmen attacked both through the wings and the middle. Yaroslav Rakitskyy linked up actively. But the tight opposing defence made no mistakes. Donetsk had a good chance to leave for the break on the winning side in injury time. Volodymyr Kostevych had a handball in his side’s penalty area, but Darijo Srna failed to score from the spot to beat Roman Pidkivka.

Almost immediately after the break, Karpaty were left short-handed: Pavlo Ksyonz fouled on Viktor Kovalenko and got a second yellow card. On 50 minutes, Facundo Ferreyra might bring the team in front. The Argentinian wanted to tip in Kovalenko’s header, but his shot went just inches wide. On 65 minutes, Paulo Fonseca made a double substitution. Bernard and Viktor Kovalenko were replaced by Taison and Dentinho. The Pitmen started attacking Lviv with renewed strength. Ferreyra once again had a great chance to score – Karpaty keeper twice rescued his team after the forward’s finishing attempts. On 76 minutes, the Argentine tried to head it home only to see his attempt go wide. But in the following attack, Facundo Ferreyra still got it his way. Shakhtar striker headed a Darijo Srna cross into the top corner to make it 2-1. This goal is his tenth this season, with Ferreyra scoring in four consecutive games. The ending the meeting saw Shakhtar attacking, as they tried to take advantage of the open spaces. But Marlos and Taison, who found themselves spearheading attacks more frequently than the others, still failed to get themselves on the scoresheet. 

The Pitmen will play their next game on 24 November. In the Europa League group stage matchday five, the Pitmen will take on Konyaspor (TUR) at the Arena Lviv. The meeting kicks off at 8:00 pm EET.