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Shakhtar 1-0 Dnipro

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

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FCSD

In the Ukrainian Cup semi-final, Shakhtar met with Dnipro

2016/17 Ukrainian Cup. Semi-finals.

April 26, 2017. Kharkiv. OSC Metalist. Att: 4,751. 12oC.

Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 (0-0) Dnipro

Goal: 1-0 Taison (68)

Shakhtar: Shevchenko, Butko, Kryvtsov, Ordets, Azevedo, Alan Patrick (Zubkov, 87), Malyshev, Marlos, Dentinho (Bernard, 60), Taison (c) (Stepanenko, 78), Blanco Leschuk

Unused subs: Kanibolotskyi, Srna, Kucher, Ferreyra

Head coach: Paulo Fonseca

Dnipro: Lunin, Adamyuk, Svatok, Lopyryonok, Vlad, Rotan (c) (Vakulko, 50), Polevoy, Nagiev, Kocherhin, Cheberko (Kohut, 64), Dovbyk (Lunyov, 74)

Unused subs: Bashtanenko, Cheberyachko, Safronov, Kozhushko

Head coach: Dmytro Mykhailenko

Booked: Vakulko (57), Svatok (82), Shevchenko (90+2)

Referee: Oleksandr Derdo (Chornomorsk)

Before the match

For the cup-tie, Paulo Fonseca made significant changes to the starting XI. For the first time in the season’s spring part, Mykyta Shevchenko, Bohdan Butko, Márcio Azevedo and Alan Patrick emerged on the pitch from the starting minutes. Sergii Kryvtsov, Gustavo Blanco Leshchuk and Dentinho were also listed in the ranks. For the Brazilian, the encounter versus Dnipro became the 100th for Shakhtar. Taison took his teammates onto the field wearing the skipper's armband.

First half

The Pitmen immediately brought the ball under control, as the visitors settled on their own half of the pitch demonstrating organized performance. First, Shakhtar went in for landing shots from the distance; however, Dentinho and Marlos did not succeed. Soon the Donetsk side No. 11 had his chance to break the deadlock. Marlos did well through individual skills and muscled his way into the shooting position only to see Dnipro goalkeeper turning the ball behind for a corner. 

Inside the 14th minute, Andrii Lunin did wonderfully to thwart a header from Márcio Azevedo, who appeared unmarked in front of the opponent's goal following the pass by the same Marlos
Inside the 14th minute, Andrii Lunin did wonderfully to thwart a header from Márcio Azevedo, who appeared unmarked in front of the opponent's goal following the pass by the same Marlos. By the middle of the first period, Dnipro have slightly moved the action away from their goal. In one of the counter attack, Artem Dovbyk mustered a treat to Mykyta Shevchenko, with Shakhtar's goalie managing to deny his effort. The dying moments of the first half saw the Donetsk side on the front foot.

Second half

The game pattern did not change after the break, except that the Pitmen started to enjoy even more possession near the visiting team’s goal. On 56 minutes, Taison could do the needful. The Brazilian emerged with the ball inside the opponent's penalty area, before landing a belter, but Dnipro stopper mopped up the danger. Soon Paulo Fonseca made the first substitution by fielding Bernard in place of Dentinho. Literally soon after that, a huge opportunity went begging for Maksym Malyshev, as Shakhtar midfielder easily beat his marker near the penalty spot to see the ball flying inches wide of the post. 
And yet in the 68th minute, the Pitmen managed to convert their attacking combo into a goal. Alan Patrick played in Marlos, which teed up Taison with a backheel, with the captain sending the ball into a bottom corner to make it 1-0
And yet in the 68th minute, the Pitmen managed to convert their attacking combo into a goal. Alan Patrick played in Marlos, which teed up Taison with a backheel, with the captain sending the ball into a bottom corner to make it 1-0. After conceding an opener, Dnipro began to operate more aggressively offensively, but the Donetsk team’s wise defensive performance brought all the visitor’s attempts to nothing. Taras Stepanenko and Oleksandr Zubkov, who replaced Taison and Alan Patrick respectively, appeared in the closing stages of the tie. The Orange-and-Blacks confidently brought the meeting to victory and reached the Ukrainian Cup final for the 17th time throughout the history.

The Pitmen will hold their following fixture on April 30. As part of the Ukrainian Premier League round 27, Shakhtar are to take on Oleksandriya in Kharkiv. It kicks off at 17:00. Tickets for this fight are already on sale.