Groundwork in Kharkiv
Thursday, February 20, 2020
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Shakhtar hosted Benfica in Kharkiv in the first leg of the Europa League Round of 32 tie
Both sides got into this competition after sealing third spots in their Champions League groups. For the Miners, this is the first competitive match in 2020, while the Eagles have had a really tight schedule recently. The starting line-ups featured no surprises: Orange-and-Blacks wise, we want to mention Serhii Bolbat at right-back and Viktor Kovalenko just behind the striker. The visitors left on the bench the team’s top scorer Vinicius, with the striker role going to Seferovic.
VAR decision
The hosts got off to a brisker start by not only setting a high pace but also pressing the Lisbon outfit in the away half. However, it was not quite about clinical finishing: Kovalenko’s attempt was blocked, with a Taison finish going wide. The key moment of the first half happened in the 20th minute: Moraes’s cross was parried by the Portuguese goalkeeper right into the path of Marlos who just hammered it into the top corner of the net. However, the celebrations by the stands and the Miners were cut short by the referee who, following the VAR suggestion, disallowed the goal due to an offside situation. Immediately, Kovalenko forced Vlachodimos to work harder by making an attempt, while Junior fired a corner into the away defender. Benfica got active only late into the first half, only seeing a wide long-range attempt by Pizzi.
Playing in one go
Early in the second half, Shakhtar produced a powerful period by creating several scoring opportunities. Moraes failed to beat the keeper in close combat, followed by Ismaily burst into the penalty area down the left-hand side and hitting the post, with a Marlos effort from the goal area corner being pulled by the same Vlachodimos. And yet, in the 56th minute, the Orange-and-Blacks unsealed the opponents’ goal: after a beautiful move, Marlos fed Alan Patrick who immaculately tapped the ball in, making it 1-0! But the hosts’ joy did not last long again, with the score getting even ten minutes on. The Portuguese scored from open play, the referee unruled the goal due to VAR, pointing to the spot though, with the penalty kick being sent home by Pizzi. Luis Castro’s men quickly regained the advantage: in the 72nd minute, Moraes rolled the ball right into the path of Viktor Kovalenko who volleyed it just past the keeper - 2-1. In the end, Andriy Pyatov habitually helped his side out by saving Grimaldo’s cannon attempt, with the teams having no other chances to change the outcome.
2-1 - Shakhtar defeated Benfica in the first leg. In a week’s time, on February 27, a return leg in Lisbon will decide the Europa League Round of 16 participants.
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 (0-0) Benfica
Kharkiv, OSK Metalist, att: 24,429 viewers
Goals: 1-0 Alan Patrick (56’), 1-1 Pizzi (67’, pen), 2-1 Kovalenko (72’)
Shakhtar: Pyatov (c), Ismaily, Matviienko, Kryvtsov, Bolbat, Stepanenko, Alan Patrick (Marcos Antonio, 80’), Taison (Tete, 90+4’), Marlos (Konoplyanka, 83’), Kovalenko, Moraes
Get more details in the match centre.
VAR decision
The hosts got off to a brisker start by not only setting a high pace but also pressing the Lisbon outfit in the away half. However, it was not quite about clinical finishing: Kovalenko’s attempt was blocked, with a Taison finish going wide. The key moment of the first half happened in the 20th minute: Moraes’s cross was parried by the Portuguese goalkeeper right into the path of Marlos who just hammered it into the top corner of the net. However, the celebrations by the stands and the Miners were cut short by the referee who, following the VAR suggestion, disallowed the goal due to an offside situation. Immediately, Kovalenko forced Vlachodimos to work harder by making an attempt, while Junior fired a corner into the away defender. Benfica got active only late into the first half, only seeing a wide long-range attempt by Pizzi.
Playing in one go
Early in the second half, Shakhtar produced a powerful period by creating several scoring opportunities. Moraes failed to beat the keeper in close combat, followed by Ismaily burst into the penalty area down the left-hand side and hitting the post, with a Marlos effort from the goal area corner being pulled by the same Vlachodimos. And yet, in the 56th minute, the Orange-and-Blacks unsealed the opponents’ goal: after a beautiful move, Marlos fed Alan Patrick who immaculately tapped the ball in, making it 1-0! But the hosts’ joy did not last long again, with the score getting even ten minutes on. The Portuguese scored from open play, the referee unruled the goal due to VAR, pointing to the spot though, with the penalty kick being sent home by Pizzi. Luis Castro’s men quickly regained the advantage: in the 72nd minute, Moraes rolled the ball right into the path of Viktor Kovalenko who volleyed it just past the keeper - 2-1. In the end, Andriy Pyatov habitually helped his side out by saving Grimaldo’s cannon attempt, with the teams having no other chances to change the outcome.
2-1 - Shakhtar defeated Benfica in the first leg. In a week’s time, on February 27, a return leg in Lisbon will decide the Europa League Round of 16 participants.
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 (0-0) Benfica
Kharkiv, OSK Metalist, att: 24,429 viewers
Goals: 1-0 Alan Patrick (56’), 1-1 Pizzi (67’, pen), 2-1 Kovalenko (72’)
Shakhtar: Pyatov (c), Ismaily, Matviienko, Kryvtsov, Bolbat, Stepanenko, Alan Patrick (Marcos Antonio, 80’), Taison (Tete, 90+4’), Marlos (Konoplyanka, 83’), Kovalenko, Moraes
Get more details in the match centre.