U19. Vorskla vs Shakhtar: match report

U19 Championship. 6th round. September 10, 2016. Poltava. Ltava Stadium. Att. 100. 24 degrees.

Vorskla U19 (Poltava) 1-0 (0-0) Shakhtar U19 (Donetsk)
 
Goal: 1-0 Tyshchenko (78)

Vorskla: Shevchuk, Herasimchuk, Zhyla, Velichenko, Dmitriiev, Ivanochko (Taranushchych, 75), Mukha (c), Kosovskyi, Tyshchenko, Danilenko (Chertkoiev, 46; Diadik, 83), Yaremenko (Antoniuk, 46)

Unused subs: Savchenko, Davydko, Borodai

Head coach: Vadym Mandriievskyi

Shakhtar: Pospelov, Konoplia, Bondar, Mate, Korniienko, Yakimets (Tkachuk, 88), Kashchuk, Putria (Khachaiev, 56), Kulakov (Kuzmenko, 73), Topalov (c) Andriushchenko (Sobolevskyi, 32)

Unused subs: Kucherenko, Chahovets, Pavlysh

Head coach: Serhiy Popov

Booked: Mate (26), Tyshchenko (43), Antoniuk (67), Diadik (90+3)

Referee: Dmytro Osaulenko (Kyiv) 

Before the match

Both teams are among leaders of the junior championship. Shakhtar had 3 wins and one loss in 4 games (9 points, goal difference: 12-4). In the last round the Pitmen beat Zirka (2-0) thanks to a brace by striker Andrii Kulakov.

Vorskla was one place ahead of Shakhtar in the standings, but had played one game more than Shakhtar. The Poltava team had three wins, a draw and a loss (10 points, goal difference: 11-6). In the previous round the Green-and-Whites beat Arsenal-Kyiv in a home game (2-1).

During the past week Stanislav Hudz, Volodymyr Yakimets, and Dmytro Topalov returned to the ranks of the Orange-and-Blacks from the national team. The latter two were in the starting line-up in the game against Vorskla.

First half

The starting minutes saw intense struggle and virtually no threats. The Pitmen tried to vary their attacks, alternating joint flank offence and combinations through the central zone, but they lacked speed in decision-making. Kashchuk and Topalov were rather active, supported by Putria and Yakimets from behind.

At the same time the onetsk team's defence prevented the opponents from coming close to their goal, meeting the Poltava players from afar, and not allowing them to gain momentum. All Vorskla's hopes relied on long-range shots, which were calmly picked off by Artem Pospelov, and the set plays that did not carry a particular threat. 

Closer to half-time Shakhtar established a firm foothold on the opponent's half of the field and created the most dangerous opportunity to score. Oleksii Kashchuk burst into the penalty area and without approaching the goalkeeper, curved the ball to the far post, but the home team was saved by the bar.

Second half

The entire second half was under the control of Shakhtar. The main threat came from the Donetsk team's left wing, where the link of Korniienko and Topalov found its game. Thus, after the captain's cross Kulakov had a chance to distinguish himself, but his head went wide over the bar. Numerous crosses into the penalty box did not find their destination, and shots by Topalov and Kashchuk were saved by the keeper. The Orange-and-Blacks' attacks were supported by centre-backs - Yurii Mate joined his partners with long diagonal passes and Valerii Bondar almost scored with a shot from 35 meters which went just wide of the goalpost.

In the 76th minute, Serhiy Popov's squad managed a lightning counter. Yakimets passed to Topalov on the left wing, the latter made a cross to the oncoming Khachaiev, but Murad sent the ball wide above the goal from just a few meters. And then the Poltava team converted their basically only chance in the entire match: Ivan Tyshchenko scored with a header after a flank cross.

In the dying minutes the Pitmen sieged the home team's goal, however Khachaiev and Kuzmenko did not take advantage of their opportunities. 

In the next round of the junior championship Shakhtar U19 will take on Arsenal-Kyiv. The match will take place on September 17 in Shchaslyve.

Serhiy Popov, Shakhtar U19 head coach:

- Perhaps the only thing that we failed to do today is scoring a goal. Even our last game against Zirka has shown that we have issues with rip-opening tight defence. Back then, we scored two goals, but wasted numerous opportunities. Today, the same thing happened. We created enough scoring chances, but failed to convert them. Even in the first half we must have turned the outcome of the game in our favour, but we lacked that last pass and final shot. In turn, Vorskla, having created one chance during the entire game, took advantage of our defensive mistake and scored one.

Now, the main thing for the boys is understanding that Shakhtar crest on the chest does not automatically add any skill. On the contrary, putting on a shirt of that kind of club, they must feel the responsibility, fight on the field with huge dedication. That’s the only way for them to be able to show their best qualities and win.