Match report
Friday, February 15, 2019
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Shakhtar hosted Eintracht in the UEFA Europa League round of 32 home game
For the Miners, this was the first competitive game after a long winter break. The starting line-up of the team was nearly the same as the one Paulo Fonseca fielded on the training camp. Bohdan Butko at right-back, the central midfield pairing of Sergii Kryvtsov and David Khocholava, plus Alan Patrick in the central area. Eintracht, who resumed the season a month earlier, gathered momentum and arrived in Kharkiv without any significant personnel losses. The only surprise was the absence of Sebastien Haller on the pitch, with Gacinovic appearing instead.
Incredible start
The start to the game turned out to be so scintillating that all the main events of the first half happened within the first ten minutes. The Frankfurt side earned a free-kick on the right-hand side, with Hinteregger heading the ball towards the far post and opening the scoring. The hosts equalised in the same prompt manner. Junior Moraes covered the ball with his body on the goal line and got a push in the back from N’Dicka, earning a spot kick. Marlos stepped up to the spot and produced a clinical attempt to the left of the keeper, with Trapp guessing it right, but failing to reach for the ball – 1-1. A minute later, the referee Anthony Taylor showed the second yellow card to Taras Stepanenko, leaving Shakhtar short-handed for nearly the entire game. Paulo Fonseca’s men tried not to sit deep and keep a high pace. For some time, by inertia, the rivals continued to exchange attacks, but only Jovic’s chance was dangerous enough (he made an attempt from about 13 meters away just to see it whizz off the crosspiece), along with Gacinovic’s long-ranger (Pyatov tipped the ball up and over the crossbar). Before the break, the Miners held back the onslaught and were constantly looking for a counterattacking opportunity, whole the Germans did not give them that chance.
Team’s mettle, captain’s goal
The early stages of the second half saw Eintracht on top. Initially, Kostic missed the target from a tight angle but immediately corrected his mistake by firing home a delivery from the right-hand side. The visitors continued attacking, this time Pyatov pulled Rebic’s free-kick from under the crossbar, while Jovic sent a header just inches off the post from an advantageous position. It was not easy for Shakhtar’s ten men to withstand the opponents’ pressure - not only the Miners survived, but also netted the second equaliser. In the 67th minute, Moraes found Taison, with the latter leaving the defender behind and beating Trapp – 2-2. Immediately after that, Paulo Fonseca sent into the battle a newcomer - Manor Solomon came on for Marlos, making his competitive debut for Shakhtar. Shortly afterwards, Maksym Malyshev got back into action after a long break (replacing the birthday boy Viktor Kovalenko). The ending of the match turned out to be extremely tense: the Frankfurt players launched some desperate all-out attacks, making at least ten deliveries into the opposing box in the dying minutes, but the Orange-and-Blacks defended rigorously and selflessly, not allowing the opponents to gain an advantage in this showdown.
2-2 - Shakhtar and Eintracht tied. This means that everything will be decided in the return leg, which is to take place in a week’s time, on February 21, in Frankfurt (kicking off at 19:55).
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-2 (1-1) Eintracht Frankfurt
Kharkiv, OSK Metalist, att: 13,059
Goals: 0-1 Hinteregger (7’), 1-1 Marlos (10’, pen.), 1-2 Kostic (50’), 2-2 Taison (67’)
Shakhtar: Pyatov, Ismaily, Khocholava, Kryvtsov, Butko, Stepanenko, Alan Patrick, Taison (c), Kovalenko (Malyshev, 81’), Marlos (Solomon, 68’), Moraes (Bolbat, 90’)
Sent off: Stepanenko (11’, second booking)
Find more details in the match centre.
Incredible start
The start to the game turned out to be so scintillating that all the main events of the first half happened within the first ten minutes. The Frankfurt side earned a free-kick on the right-hand side, with Hinteregger heading the ball towards the far post and opening the scoring. The hosts equalised in the same prompt manner. Junior Moraes covered the ball with his body on the goal line and got a push in the back from N’Dicka, earning a spot kick. Marlos stepped up to the spot and produced a clinical attempt to the left of the keeper, with Trapp guessing it right, but failing to reach for the ball – 1-1. A minute later, the referee Anthony Taylor showed the second yellow card to Taras Stepanenko, leaving Shakhtar short-handed for nearly the entire game. Paulo Fonseca’s men tried not to sit deep and keep a high pace. For some time, by inertia, the rivals continued to exchange attacks, but only Jovic’s chance was dangerous enough (he made an attempt from about 13 meters away just to see it whizz off the crosspiece), along with Gacinovic’s long-ranger (Pyatov tipped the ball up and over the crossbar). Before the break, the Miners held back the onslaught and were constantly looking for a counterattacking opportunity, whole the Germans did not give them that chance.
Team’s mettle, captain’s goal
The early stages of the second half saw Eintracht on top. Initially, Kostic missed the target from a tight angle but immediately corrected his mistake by firing home a delivery from the right-hand side. The visitors continued attacking, this time Pyatov pulled Rebic’s free-kick from under the crossbar, while Jovic sent a header just inches off the post from an advantageous position. It was not easy for Shakhtar’s ten men to withstand the opponents’ pressure - not only the Miners survived, but also netted the second equaliser. In the 67th minute, Moraes found Taison, with the latter leaving the defender behind and beating Trapp – 2-2. Immediately after that, Paulo Fonseca sent into the battle a newcomer - Manor Solomon came on for Marlos, making his competitive debut for Shakhtar. Shortly afterwards, Maksym Malyshev got back into action after a long break (replacing the birthday boy Viktor Kovalenko). The ending of the match turned out to be extremely tense: the Frankfurt players launched some desperate all-out attacks, making at least ten deliveries into the opposing box in the dying minutes, but the Orange-and-Blacks defended rigorously and selflessly, not allowing the opponents to gain an advantage in this showdown.
2-2 - Shakhtar and Eintracht tied. This means that everything will be decided in the return leg, which is to take place in a week’s time, on February 21, in Frankfurt (kicking off at 19:55).
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-2 (1-1) Eintracht Frankfurt
Kharkiv, OSK Metalist, att: 13,059
Goals: 0-1 Hinteregger (7’), 1-1 Marlos (10’, pen.), 1-2 Kostic (50’), 2-2 Taison (67’)
Shakhtar: Pyatov, Ismaily, Khocholava, Kryvtsov, Butko, Stepanenko, Alan Patrick, Taison (c), Kovalenko (Malyshev, 81’), Marlos (Solomon, 68’), Moraes (Bolbat, 90’)
Sent off: Stepanenko (11’, second booking)
Find more details in the match centre.