Shakhtar vs Zorya: match report

The teams approached the game sitting in the second and third spots in the table and being four points apart. This was the Miners’ fifth match in the last fortnight, although Luis Castro decided to make just minor changes to the starting line-up who had played in the Europa League this recent Thursday: Ismaily appeared at left-back, while Tete operated as a wide striker at the right-hand side.

Equal chances

The first half began with Shakhtar's attacks - in the 6th minute Patrick’s cannon shot rattled the goalpost. Tete had a couple of good chances, but Vasyl coped with his first strike, with the second attempt going just inches wide. The Luhansk outfit responded with their own chance: after a corner, Vernydub sent the ball toward the roof of the net with a scorpion kick, but Trubin showed incredible reflexes and rescued his side. Just before the break, Ismaily trapped Marlos’s delivery and nearly rolled the ball into the far corner (wide), while Nazaryna checked Trubin’s reaction with a free-kick attempt - the keeper stopped it again.

Unexpected denouement

In the second half, the end-to-end action continued. Vasyl saved Ismaily's near-corner attempt, while Trubin and Maycon prevented Hladkyi from excelling. Immediately, a timely tackle by Matviienko stopped Allahyar's breakthrough, and the Luhansk defender blocked Marlos's attempt. The efforts by Patrick, Tete and Ismaily did not reach the goal as well, plus Taison had a clearcut chance, however, the goalkeeper coped with his shot. In the 79th minute, the visitors were left short-handed: for a rough foul on Moraes, the referee sent Juninho off after reviewing the VAR. From that moment on, Shakhtar got in full control of the ball and pressed the opponents against their penalty area. Maycon initially sent the ball high over the crossbar, then he brought Ismaily through on target only to see Abu Hanna stop the defender's attempt. Maycon had another chance, but Vasyl acted clinically again. And in the last minute of stoppage time, Zorya managed to carry out an effective counterattack that was launched by Allahyar and finished off by Ivanisenya to make it 0-1.

The Miners’ football marathon is on. Already this Wednesday, March 3, they will take part in the Ukrainian Cup tie against the first-league side Ahrobiznes (the game kicks off at 19:00). On Saturday, March 6, they will have another UPL game vs Olimpik.

Shakhtar Donetsk 0-1 (0-0) Zorya Luhansk

Kyiv, NSC Olimpiyskiy, att: 4,267

Goal: 0-1 Ivanisenya (90+4’)

Shakhtar: Trubin, Dodo, Vitao, Matviienko, Ismaily, Maycon, Marlos (c), Patrick (Marcos 65’), Tete (Solomon 76’), Taison, Moraes

Sent off: Juninho (79’)