Winning shot

The Miners continue alternating their European club cup matches with the domestic league games. So they went to Dnipro just two days after the Champions League match, therefore a wide rotation of the squad was inevitable. Luis Castro entrusted places in the starting XI to young footballers, including Cipriano and Fernando as a central forward, with an experienced Marlos leading the team to the pitch.

Goalless half

The opponents began the match with a careful reconnaissance, which lasted on for almost the entire first half. It saw a lot of tactical confrontations, multiple ball challenges and midfield control, but just few dangerous chances near goals. Only Maycon's long-range attempts added some edge to the action: the first of them was parried away by Yurchuk, the second one missed the top corner just by inches. The hosts skillfully slowed down Shakhtar's explosive wingers Solomon and Tete with regular fouls, failing to rip open a well-organized defensive third through the central passage.

Fighting until the last minute

Realizing the issues experienced by the team, Luis Castro fielded Alan Patrick and Taison in the second half instead of Marcos and Manor. From the opening minutes, Dnipro did not miss the opportunity of resorting to timewasting for which they repeatedly received verbal warnings from the referee. Meanwhile, Maycon continued his duel with the host goalkeeper: the Brazilian fired a powerful free-kick - Yurchuk made another save. Igor Jovicevic's men made their first attempt on target as late as on 65 minutes, but it did not cause Trubin any problems at all. The Miners stepped it up in the closing ten minutes: Matviienko beat several opponents and created a chance for Fernando only to see the latter send it over both the keeper and the goal. But in the 88th minute, the visitors still managed to score the winning goal. Cipriano crossed it from the left flank, with the ball flying across the entire penalty area and finding Tete who planted it right inside the bottom corner without any interference.

1-0 - Shakhtar snatched the late win vs Dnipro-1 and are now preparing for the next Champions League match. On the 1st of December, the Miners will host the Spanish champions Real Madrid at the NSC Olimpiyskiy. The game kicks off at 19:55.

Dnipro-1 0-1 (0-0) Shakhtar Donetsk

Dnipro, Dnipro-Arena, behind closed doors

Goal: 0-1 Tete (88’)

Shakhtar: Trubin, Dodo, Bondar, Matviienko, Cipriano, Maycon (Kovalenko 60’), Tete, Marcos (Patrick 46’), Solomon (Taison 46’), Marlos (c) (Stepanenko 90’), Fernando