U21. Shakhtar vs Zorya: watch the match online
Friday, February 26, 2021
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Shakhtar will play Zorya Luhansk in the U21 League round 16
February 27, Shchaslyve, Kniazha Arena, 12:00
Before the match
After two confident victories over Kolos (3-1) and Rukh (2-0) early this year, the Miners have 36 points and the second spot in the league table (goal difference is 50-16). Daniel Egbudjo, Andrii Chyruk and Eduard Kozik, who continue recovering, will not benefit the team in the game vs the Luhansk team. However, Artem Veklenko is preparing together with the team.
Fernando Valente, Shakhtar U21 head coach:
“I remember very well the match against Zorya in the first stage - it was not easy. Games against this team are always difficult because they have a pretty powerful team. But we have prepared well and will appear to show all of our best qualities. I would like to mention that the major central defender Eduard Kozik got out this week due to injury, which, of course, complicates the task in a way.”
Opponents
After 14 rounds, Zorya U21 sit in the 8th spot in the table with 20 points. In the second half of the league season, the Black-and-Whites managed to win the home match vs Desna (3-0), but they lost to Mariupol (2-5) away. The Luhansk side stand out due to their attacking play with the active use of fullbacks during positional attacks, they quickly move from defence to attack, therefore they score mainly after counterattacks. In winter, some personnel reshuffle happened in Baranov's team, the leaders left the team: Maksym Ahapov, Tymofei Sukhar and Dmytro Piddubnyi who went on loan to VPK-Ahro in the First League. The best scorer is Danyil Alifirenko (6 goals).
Head-to-head record
In the U21 league, Shakhtar and Zorya have had 33 meetings: 19 wins for the Miners, nine matches ended in a draw and five were won by the Luhansk side (goal difference is 66-33 in favour of the Miners). In the away meeting in the first stage, the Orange-and-Blacks snatched a 3-2 victory in the dying minutes.
Previous match
September 19, 2020. Zaporizhia
Zorya Luhansk U21 2-3 (0-1) Shakhtar Donetsk U21
Goals: 0-1 Sudakov (5’), 0-2 Viunnyk (63’), 1-2 Ahapov (65’ pen), 2-2 Milchenko (87’), 2-3 Ocheretko (90+2’)
Missed penalty: Sudakov (75’ save)
Shakhtar U21: Turbaievskyi, Kapinus, Kozik, Mampassi, Drambaev, Hurov (Abdullaiev 86’), Chyruk (Kobak 67’; Pohorilyi 75’), Ocheretko, Viunnyk, Sudakov (c), Shostak (Rudavskyi 84’)