The Champions!

The Miners approached the match with an advantage of 16 points over the closest pursuers and were maximally determined to win gold medals today. In the starting lineup of the team, Luis Castro’s starting XI broght no surprises: Andriy Pyatov got back in goal, Marquinhos Cipriano played at left-back again, with Marcos Antonio appearing in midfield from the off.

Narrow lead

Without putting it on the back burner, the Orange-and-Blacks immediately began to attack and succeeded early. Already in the 13th minute, Shendryk brought down Moraes one on one and forced the referee to point to the spot, with Taison powerfully converting the penalty kick – 1-0. A couple of minutes later, Junior netted one himself, with a linesman flagging the striker offside. Shakhtar did not slow down and continued attacking, forcing the visitors to park the bus. Stepanenko (the effort was saved by the keeper) and Cipriano (the ball bounced off for a corner) produced dangerous long-range attempts, with the ball again hitting the back of Oleksandriia’s net midway through the first half, with the goal unruled due to Marlos being registered offside this time. Late in the half, the Oleksandriians stepped it up by orchestrating a few set pieces and Luchkevych finding himself one on one with the keeper, but the duel saw Pyatov win it.

Tete’s golden double

And immediately after the break, the Oleksandriia players rushed to attack and immediately turned it around. First, Banada headed home his teammate’s delivery and equalized before the ball hit Matviienko’s hand in the latter’s own penalty area, with the referee pointing to the spot - Tretyakov fired it just home. Then, it was the Miners’ turn to join in the action and show their mettle. An unconventional substitution by Luis Castro was also helpful when instead of Stepanenko he fielded Tete. It was the young Brazilian who turned into a genuine best sub. Just after four minutes, he skillfully caught a cross and beat the goalkeeper, making it 2-2. Shortly after that, he nearly repeated his feat following Cipriano’s cross, but this time the ball just went high. Literally encircling the visitors' penalty area, the Orange-and-Blacks continued putting pressure on the opposing defenders and finally hit the target in the 78th minute: Konoplyanka sent in a high ball from beyond the box, and Tete planted the ball into the back of the net with his head, making it 3-2! The hosts focussed on controlling the situation and created another couple of great chances, but in the stoppage time they nearly gave the opponents another scoring opportunity that was stopped by Khocholava’s well-timed sliding tackle.

3-2 - Shakhtar defeated Oleksandriia and won the 2019/20 Ukrainian League title early!

Shakhtar Donetsk 3-2 (1-0) Oleksandriia

Kyiv, NSC Olimpiyskiy, behind closed doors

Goals: 1-0 Taison (13’, pen), 1-1 Banada (48’), 1-2 Tretyakov (51’, pen), 2-2 Tete (60’), 3-2 Tete (78’)

Shakhtar: Pyatov (c), Dodo, Kryvtsov, Matviienko, Cipriano (Konoplyanka, 76’), Stepanenko (Tete, 56’), Marcos Antonio, Alan Patrick (Khocholava, 86’), Marlos (Kovalenko, 86’), Taison, Moraes