Shakhtar vs Charleroi: match report

July 7, 2017. Bochum. Vonovia Ruhrstadion. +29 ^oC.

Shakhtar (Donetsk, Ukraine) 0-2 Charleroi (Charleroi, Belgium) 

Goals: 0-1 Pollet (48), 0-2 Benavente (76)

Shakhtar: Pyatov, Srna (c), Ordets, Rakits’kyy, Ismaily, Stepanenko, Kovalenko (Malyshev, 67), Marlos, Taison (Alan Patrick, 81), Bernard (Dentinho, 71), Ferreyra (Blanco Leschuk, 81)

Unused subs: Shevchenko, Kudryk, Butko, Kryvtsov, Khocholava, Azevedo, Tankovskyi, Zubkov

Head coach: Paulo Fonseca

Charleroi: Penneteau, Marinos (Mata, 46), Martos (c) (Celestine, 46), Dessoleil (Zajkov, 46), Nurio, (Boulenger, 46), Lukebakio (Stevance, 46), Hendrickx (Rodes, 61), Sağlık (Remacle, 46), Baby (Benavente, 46), Rezaei (Fall, 46), Bedia (Pollet, 46)

Unused subs: Mandanda, Imbrechts, Baume, Ilaim, Diandy, Tainmont

Manager: Felice Mazzu

Referee: Bastian Bomer (Germany)

Before the match

Shakhtar players rounded off the training camp in Germany with a friendly game against Charleroi, Belgium. This was the fifth test match for the Orange-and-Blacks during their preparation for the new season. For the final game of the summer pre-season spell, the Donetsk side’s head coach Paulo Fonseca fielded a pair of central defenders Rakits’kyy and Ordets, Stepanenko and Kovalenko at centre, with Ferreyra acting at the role of the striker.

First half

The match started at a low pace. The teams did not sit back in defence and delivered mainly set-play attacks. In the course of time, the Donetsk team began to enjoy possession more often, taking the game into the opponents’ half. In the 15th minute, Shakhtar had the first sight at Charleroi goal: Darijo Srna played a cross for Marlos who tried to convert the teammate’s pass, but sent his header just over the bar.

Soon after that, Bernard fired from the edge of the box only to see the ball fly just close to the crossbar. The Belgians responded with a shot from Rezaei, but Andriy Pyatov and the Miners’ defensive line managed to deny it. At the same time, one of Charleroi’s occasional attacks nearly brought them success, as Lukebakio’s curler hit the post. The most real chance to open the score came 2 minutes before the break. Taison drew the goalkeeper and played a pass to Marlos, who fired only to see the defender saving the Belgians at the last moment by steering the ball clear from the goal line.

Second half

Inside the opening minutes, Charleroi succeeded in breaking the deadlock, as a substitute Pollet sent his long-ranger home. In general, the game pattern did not change, with the Miners still enjoying territorial advantage and using the entire width of the pitch for their attacking moves. Into 57 minutes of the game, Yaroslav Rakits’kyy played nicely, but the opponents’ goalkeeper turned the ball behind for a corner. Shortly after that, Facundo Ferreyra dragged his header just wide. In another episode, Remacle handled the ball inside his own penalty area, what led to nothing more than a resulting corner. On 67 minutes, Paulo Fonseca made the first substitution by fielding Maksym Malyshev instead of Viktor Kovalenko. Soon, Dentinho appeared on the field, replacing Bernard, who was injured. The Donetsk side kept up to deliver attack, but conceded again in the 76th minute: Benavente kicked the ball into the net. At the end of the meeting, Alan Patrick and Gustavo Blanco Leschuk came on for Taison and Facundo Ferreyra, taking their positions. As a result – 0-2.

The Miners will hold their next fixture on July 15. Shakhtar will lock horns with Dynamo in the season-opening Ukrainian Super Cup decider in Odesa. It kicks off at 21:00. Tickets are already on sale.