U21. Zorya 0-3 Shakhtar

April 1, 2017. Zaporizhzhya. Torpedo stadium. Att: 150. 12^oC.

Goals: 0-1 Ihnatenko (38), 0-2 Hlahola (65), 0-3 Yalovenko (74)

Zorya: Chuvaiev, Safihanov, Avramenko, Shershen, Kravchenko, Nechyporenko, Yarmash (c) (Suhomlyn, 77), Terzi, Kachavenda, Belousov, Yemets (Maiboroda, 33)

Unused sub: Herasymenko

Head coach: Volodymyr Mykytin

Shakhtar: Kudryk, Kiryukhantsev, Sahutkin (Masalov, 84), Kacharaba, Kornienko, Hlushchuk (Korobenko, 82), Ihnatenko, Pikhalyonok (c), Yalovenko , Hlahola (Topalov, 75), Arendaruk (Arabidze, 77)

Unused subs: Grytsenko, Hrachov, Zinkevych

Head coach: Valeriy Kryventsov

Booked: Kachavenda (80)

Referee: Anatolii Zhabchenko (Khmelnytskyi)

The contenders meet for the third time this season. In the first round game, the Pitmen beat the Luhansk side (2-0), with the recent clash in March ending in a draw (0-0). Shakhtar rounded off the opening stage of the domestic league with a victory over Olimpik to continue to vie for gold medals, ranking second in the table (49 points). Zorya stay on the fifth spot (29 points), preserving theoretical chances of getting on top three. In the Donetsk side’s starting line-up, serving one-match ban Valerii Bondar was replaced by Danylo Sahutkin, as Oleh Kudryk took the place in the goal, with Oleksandr Hlahola coming out to operate on the right flank of the attacking line.

Shakhtar dominated the early stages of the game, but failed to implement considerable territorial advantage into moments of danger for a long time. The first chance came their way only in the 18th minute: after playing a corner, Yurii Hlushchuk connected with the ball on the edge of the penalty area to hit over the crossbar from the tight angle. But if in the previous game the Pitmen had not converted a dozen of opportunities they created, today Valeriy Kryventsov’s team managed to beat the bag out of the opportunities forged in the first half. First, Oleksandr Pikhalyonok bounced a free-kick onto the post, then he switched a cross from the left into the penalty area on 38 minutes, before Danylo Ihnatenko sliced his header into the far corner to make it 1-0. Before the break, the Orange-and-Blacks could double the score, however, the Luhansk team goalie contrived to deny efforts from Ihnatenko and Arendaruk.

Zorya, not wanting to put up with the defeat, rushed forward more actively in the second half, leaving open spaces in defence, as the Orange-and-Blacks hit the hosts on the counters courtesy of fast moves employing the wings. In one of the moments, the Donetsk side delivered a four-on-two break, with Yalovenko playing in Arendaruk, however Denys fired his shot over the goal. Shakhtar could increase the advantage in the middle of the second half. 25 minutes before the time, Kiryukhantsev delivered a low cross into the penalty area, before the ball bounced onto the path of Oleksandr Hlahola, who tapped an accurate shot into the corner – 2-0. Less than ten minutes later, the Pitmen registered the final score: Pikhalyonok’s pass found Roman Yalovenko, which outplayed a defender before beating the ‘keeper to make it 3-0.

After the victory over Zorya, Donetsk side reduced the deficit from the top spot to five points. Shakhtar U21 team will play their next match versus Chornomorets in Schaslyve on April 8.

- We were concerned of this meeting, since there was a long break in the league, as many of our footballers played for the national teams. It was difficult to guess in what condition the players would come back to the club. But it's worth giving them their due: a real team in every sense of the word have come onto the pitch today. The guys displayed a good organization and an impressive performance throughout the match. Producing impressive performance is what Shakhtar reserve team should be always remarkable for. We have done this today, and we are very happy that we managed to claim a confident win. We are also satisfied with the substitutes. They proved themselves well. Well, in general, I would like to note an excellent microclimate in the team. The title race goes on. Our competitor suffered a loss, there is a slight gap, and the team is eager to eliminate this deficit. We will snatch an opportunity to achieve our goal.