Comeback win!
Thursday, February 22, 2018
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In the UCL last-16 first leg tie, Shakhtar Donetsk entertained AS Roma (ITA) in Kharkiv
The mentors of both teams managed to field the optimum line-ups: Bernard got back to the ranks for Shakhtar, Florenzi rejoined Roma. Bohdan Butko took a place at right-back for Shakhtar, with the pairing of Sergii Kryvtsov and Yaroslav Rakits’kyy operating at centre back, with this game being the 300th Shakhtar appearance for the latter (the 53rd Champions League one).
Hosts more active, visitors more accurate
Already in the 4th minute Shakhtar created the first chance: after a quick blistering attack, Ismaily flashed a cross to go across the entire goal area, with no Shakhtar players managing to finish off the Brazilian’s delivery. The Romans immediately responded with a dangerous left-hand-side corner - Andriy Pyatov’s incredible reflexes secured saving a Dzeko hammering shot from a couple of metres, with Stepanenko boldly rushing to prevent Fazio from scoring. In such an open and dynamic football game, Paulo Fonseca’s men looked more active: the Donetsk team attacked diversely and widely, getting both wings linking up, with Marlos looking particularly clinical, he was continuously getting rid of the marksmen through his dribbling skill. Meanwhile, Roma got focussed on counterattacking and achieved success. First, Dzeko nearly managed to get one on one with Pyatov only to see the duel being won by the goalkeeper. However, just shortly before the break, the visitors opened the scoring: the same Dzeko delivered a defence-splitting through ball into the penalty area, with Ismaily failing to intercept it and Under hitting a side-footed shot and bundling the ball into the back of the net. Another unpleasant moment was Sergii Kryvtsov's injury just a minute away from half-time. The defender was replaced by Ivan Ordets.
Reward for character
However, those difficulties just made the team more focussed, with the Miners producing a powerful comeback performance in the second half. In the 52nd minute, Shakhtar’s top scorer of the current season Facundo Ferreyra equalised: Rakits’kyy brought the striker through on goal with his long ball, with the Argentinian easily cutting inside Manolas and placing the ball just under Alison’s reach – 1-1. Just three minutes later, the visitors might have come in front: Ismaily fed the ball into Marlos’ path in the middle of the box, with the latter hitting towards goal and thinking it was heading in only for Alisson to make a good reaction save. He also incredibly saved Taison's attempt into the top left corner. The pressure by the Orange-and-Blacks grew more and resulted in a logical second goal. In the 71st minute, Marlos earned a dangerous free-kick some 20 metres away from goal, with Fred striking the ball with side-foot and power to make it rise over the wall and crash into the net via the bar, with Alisson standing no chance of pulling off a save – 2-1. Immediately after that, the Donetsk team dropped a little deeper to win the space for quick counter-attacks. There also were threatening crosses from Ismaily and Butko, with Facundo's shot being blocked by the defenders and Stepanenko's effort being covered by the goalkeeper. At the same time, they didn’t allow the Italians to create anything more dangerous than a couple of unpleasant long-range strikes by Gerson, with Pyatov confidently saving them. And in the last injury-time minute, the Miners could have scored their third goal of the evening: following Taison’s slaloming run and delivery, Viktor Kovalenko fed Ferreyra, with Alisson managing to make an excellent reaction save.
2-1 - Shakhtar beat Roma in the tie’s first leg.
The UCL last-16 return clash will take place in Rome on March 13. This Sunday, February 25, Shakhtar will receive Zirka in the Ukrainian League at 17:00. You can buy tickets at shakhtar.com.
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 (0-1) AS Roma
Kharkiv, OSC Metalist, att: 35,124
Goals: 0-1 Under (41), 1-1 Ferreyra (52), 2-1 Fred (71)
Shakhtar: Pyatov, Butko, Kryvtsov (Ordets - 45+3), Rakits’kyy, Ismaily, Stepanenko, Fred, Bernard (Kovalenko - 90+2), Marlos, Taison (c), Ferreyra
For more information, please visit the match centre.
Hosts more active, visitors more accurate
Already in the 4th minute Shakhtar created the first chance: after a quick blistering attack, Ismaily flashed a cross to go across the entire goal area, with no Shakhtar players managing to finish off the Brazilian’s delivery. The Romans immediately responded with a dangerous left-hand-side corner - Andriy Pyatov’s incredible reflexes secured saving a Dzeko hammering shot from a couple of metres, with Stepanenko boldly rushing to prevent Fazio from scoring. In such an open and dynamic football game, Paulo Fonseca’s men looked more active: the Donetsk team attacked diversely and widely, getting both wings linking up, with Marlos looking particularly clinical, he was continuously getting rid of the marksmen through his dribbling skill. Meanwhile, Roma got focussed on counterattacking and achieved success. First, Dzeko nearly managed to get one on one with Pyatov only to see the duel being won by the goalkeeper. However, just shortly before the break, the visitors opened the scoring: the same Dzeko delivered a defence-splitting through ball into the penalty area, with Ismaily failing to intercept it and Under hitting a side-footed shot and bundling the ball into the back of the net. Another unpleasant moment was Sergii Kryvtsov's injury just a minute away from half-time. The defender was replaced by Ivan Ordets.
Reward for character
However, those difficulties just made the team more focussed, with the Miners producing a powerful comeback performance in the second half. In the 52nd minute, Shakhtar’s top scorer of the current season Facundo Ferreyra equalised: Rakits’kyy brought the striker through on goal with his long ball, with the Argentinian easily cutting inside Manolas and placing the ball just under Alison’s reach – 1-1. Just three minutes later, the visitors might have come in front: Ismaily fed the ball into Marlos’ path in the middle of the box, with the latter hitting towards goal and thinking it was heading in only for Alisson to make a good reaction save. He also incredibly saved Taison's attempt into the top left corner. The pressure by the Orange-and-Blacks grew more and resulted in a logical second goal. In the 71st minute, Marlos earned a dangerous free-kick some 20 metres away from goal, with Fred striking the ball with side-foot and power to make it rise over the wall and crash into the net via the bar, with Alisson standing no chance of pulling off a save – 2-1. Immediately after that, the Donetsk team dropped a little deeper to win the space for quick counter-attacks. There also were threatening crosses from Ismaily and Butko, with Facundo's shot being blocked by the defenders and Stepanenko's effort being covered by the goalkeeper. At the same time, they didn’t allow the Italians to create anything more dangerous than a couple of unpleasant long-range strikes by Gerson, with Pyatov confidently saving them. And in the last injury-time minute, the Miners could have scored their third goal of the evening: following Taison’s slaloming run and delivery, Viktor Kovalenko fed Ferreyra, with Alisson managing to make an excellent reaction save.
2-1 - Shakhtar beat Roma in the tie’s first leg.
The UCL last-16 return clash will take place in Rome on March 13. This Sunday, February 25, Shakhtar will receive Zirka in the Ukrainian League at 17:00. You can buy tickets at shakhtar.com.
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 (0-1) AS Roma
Kharkiv, OSC Metalist, att: 35,124
Goals: 0-1 Under (41), 1-1 Ferreyra (52), 2-1 Fred (71)
Shakhtar: Pyatov, Butko, Kryvtsov (Ordets - 45+3), Rakits’kyy, Ismaily, Stepanenko, Fred, Bernard (Kovalenko - 90+2), Marlos, Taison (c), Ferreyra
For more information, please visit the match centre.