U19. Shakhtar 3-0 Arsenal-Kyiv

Goals: 1-0 Putria (16, pen.), 2-0 Kulakov (20), 3-0 Putria (90+3)

Shakhtar: Pospelov, Konoplia, Mate, Bondar (Semenikhin, 54), Korniienko, Sobolevskyi (Tkachuk, 59), Putria, Yakimets, Kulakov, Topalov (c), Andrushchenko (Kuzmenko, 46; Pavlysh, 79)

Unused subs: Vertei, Prodanov, Hudz

Head coach: Serhiy Popov

Arsenal-Kyiv: Strokous, Borisenko, Melichenko (c) Yasnitskyi, Kovernikov, Shkarupa, Ivaniuk (Viner, 46), Stryzhak (Rusian, 72), Filippov, Zaika, Dyshkant (Averin, 90)

Unused subs: Pavlov, Pokoievoi, Kryliuk, Dereviaho

Head coach: Taras Ilnitskyi

Booked: Bondar (50)

Referee: Yevhen Tsybulko (Cherkasy)

The teams are next to each other in the standings. Shakhtar are 7th with nine points. Arsenal-Kyiv are in the 6th position, but have played one more game than Shakhtar. The Orange-and-Blacks’ opponents won 3 matches, lost in two, and had one draw (10 points, goal difference: 14-8). In the previous round the Kyiv team beat Olimpik Donetsk in a home game (4-1).

Compared with the previous match, Shakhtar’s head coach Serhiy Popov made one change, fielding Kirill Sobolevskyi instead of Oleksii Kashchuk.

The Pitmen started the match more actively. As early as in the 5th minute, the Orange-and-Blacks could score an opener, but Kirill Sobolevskyi’s header after a pass by Dmytro Topalov was wide. However, soon the Donetsk team distinguished themselves twice. On 16 minutes, Ilia Putria scored a penalty awarded for a handball by the opponents, and on 20, Andrii Kulakov doubled the lead. He made a precise shot to the far corner after a great individual play by Topalov, who beat several defenders before that. Afterwards, the game went on mainly on the away team’s half of the field. The Kyiv team posed threats only after set plays, however, the Pitmen’s defence did not make any mistakes. The lead could have been extended by Maksym Andruschenko, but his curve ball hit the post. At the end of the half dangerous opportunities were created by Volodymyr Yakimets, who shot just under the crossbar and Kirill Sobolevskyi, who made an attempt after a corner.

The game pattern barely changed after half-time. Shakhtar footballers continued to maintain territorial advantage, while their rivals relied on counterattacks. In the beginning of the second half Serhiy Popov made a series of substitutions. First, Maksym Andruschenko was replaced by Vladyslav Kuzmenko on the right wing. Valerii Bondar who received a booking, was substituted for Ivan Semenikhin in the centre-field. And on 60 minutes, the coach fielded Orest Tkachuk, who took the place of Kirill Sobolevskyi, but played a little further out in the holding area. Tkachuk had a number of immediate promising chances: after a shot from the penalty box line, Orest hit the post, and later he had a dangerous breakthrough towards the goal but the Kyiv team’s keeper played well. On 62 minutes, the away team had an opportunity to square off one goal - Yaroslav Zaika made a dangerous header.

By the middle of the half the game calmed down a bit. The Pitmen continued to control the ball, but there was only infrequent threat to the Kyiv team’s goal. The Donetsk team conducted a beautiful combination on 80 minutes, when the most active player of the home team Topalov beat two defenders and made a cross. The oncoming Andrii Kulakov made an attempt with his heel, but the ball did not reach the goal. The game’s dying minutes saw a number of attacks by the Orange-and-Blacks, but their dominance was only converted in stoppage time. Dmytro Topalov advanced on the flank and passed to Putria, and Ilia did not miss. As a result, the Pitmen defeat Arsenal-Kyiv 3-0.

In the next round Shakhtar U19 will take on Oleksandriya in Shchaslyve.

- In this match we had an overwhelming advantage over the opponents both in terms of possession and the number of scoring chances. As a result, we won 3-0. WE are basically satisfied with the performance of the team regulars, while the substitution players, unfortunately, did not step up our act. Overall, the coaching staff are pleased with the play quality. Although, of course, it is possible to operate much better. Compared to the previous duel in Poltava, today we had more scoring chances. But the guys, despite their age, need to understand that every scoring opportunity should be taken very seriously. Of course, we have enough things to improve. We will try to eliminate the flaws over the time remaining before the game against Oleksandriya.