Major win

This is the Miners’ fourth match over the last 10 days, so the squad rotation was inevitable. Luis Castro fielded from the off a group of players who have recovered from the coronavirus, along with several young ones: Vitao, Cipriano, Heorhii Sudakov, Vladyslav Vakula and Bohdan Viunnyk.

Significant advantage

The Orange-and-Blacks got off to a maximally confident start and quickly switched from ball control to creating chances. To differ from the attempts of Vakula and Bolbat that went wide, Stepanenko shot dangerously after a corner, but Kudryk rescued the visitors, with Viunnyk's tight-angle finish hitting the woodwork. In the next episode, Viunnyk found himself one on one with the goalkeeper, however, that duel was won by Kudryk. They managed to open the scoring midway through the first half though: Tischenko commited a handball offence in his own penalty area, with Taison converting the spot-kick without any problem at all, making it 1-0. The Miners could have scored immediately and even more than once, but Kudryk acted reliably again parrying away straight efforts by Sudakov, Vakula and Patrick. The Miners managed to extend the lead just a minute away from half-time: Viunnyk fed Heorhii Sudakov who clinically sent the ball from the edge of the box right inside the corner, making it 2-0. This is the 18-year-old midfielder's debut goal for the first team.

Resounding defeat

In the second half, the nature of the play did not change: all the same possession in the opposing half and systematic pressure bore fruit. The sub Tete lobbed the ball over the defender and was brought down in the penalty area, while Alan Patrick fired his attempt past Kudryk, making it 3-0: 0. After the break, the Mariupol team also launched bolder attacks and soon managed to score a consolation goal: Mishnev quickly played a free-kick and brought Horbunov one on one, with the latter outplaying Pyatov. However, it was the Orange-and-Blacks who netted the last goal. Taison received the ball in an open space, burst into the penalty area and hit the far corner by bending the ball. In the remaining time, Tete had a couple of great chances, the goalkeeper also rescued the visitors from Bolbat's dangerous effort. 4-1 - Shakhtar confidently sorted it out with Mariupol and are switching to the Champions League again.

On November 3, the Miners will have a UCL MD3 game vs Borussia Monchengladbach. The match kicks off at the NSC Olimpiyskiy at 19:55. Tickets are on sale now.

Shakhtar Donetsk 4-1 (2-0) Mariupol

Kyiv, NSC Olimpiyskiy, behind closed doors

Goals: 1-0 Taison (26’ pen), 2-0 Sudakov (44’), 3-0 Patrick (65’ pen), 3-1 Horbunov (72’), 4-1 Taison (75’)

Shakhtar: Pyatov (c), Cipriano, Matviienko, Vitao, Bolbat, Stepanenko, Patrick, Taison, Vakula (Moraes 70’), Sudakov, Viunnyk (Tete 58’)