Away win
Friday, July 30, 2021
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Shakhtar played Lviv away in the Premier League round 2
The Miners began the season with a 2-1 victory over Inhulets, while the Lviv side started their league campaign with a 1-1 tie vs Mariupol. In comparison with the debut match, Roberto De Zerbi made two changes in the starting lineup: Marcos Antonio operated in midfield next to Taras Stepanenko this time, with Tete operating on the right wing instead of Pedrinho.
Goalless half
The hosts started actively and created a danger in the very first minute: Ernest's shot went past the far post. The Orange-and-Blacks responded with a chance by Traore: the Burkinian headed Solomon's cross goalwards, the ball hit the pitch surface and jumped off over the crossbar. Next, Korniienko had a great opportunity while finishing off Tete’s cross, but he sent it high as well. Mahmutovic was close to opening the scoring by sending the ball towards his own goal - Kostyk reacted well and turned it for a corner. Midway through the first half, Traore, Tete, Patrick and Solomon made good attempts, but they failed to convert at least one of those chances. Shortly before the break, two of Dodo's efforts were handballed by the Lviv players, however the referee Mykola Balakin did not react to those episodes. Solomon could bring his side success by his signature shot from outside the penalty area only to see the goalkeeper rescue the host team again.
Late thrashing
The start of the second half saw a chance created by the Lviv outfit: this time Ernest sent in a high ball and Cina fired it towards the middle of the goal - Trubin coped with the threat. Shakhtar quickly regained control: first, Solomon missed the ball from a great position after beign fed by Korniienko, plus the keeper coped with Stepanenko's long-range shot. At the same time, the Citizens did not forget to launch some dangerous counterattacks: in one of the episodes, Renan got through on target, but hesitated and wasted his scoring opportunity. A few minutes later, the Miners scored a goal: the substitute Marlos chipped it into the penalty area, Lassina Traore won an aerial challenge and headed the ball home, making it 0-1. Playmaker Marlos brought Pedrinho (wide off the post) and Solomon (Manor's attempt was blocked by a defender) through on target. However, the second goal resulted from two other substitutions by De Zerbi: in the 85th minute, Ismaily who returned to the pitch after a long break, sent a cross and Dentinho who got off the bench a minute eariler, volleyed it right home – 0-2. The Miners sealed the win in stoppage time: after a move involving Solomon, Marlos and Dodo, the defender knocked the ball off, but Pedrinho trapped it, beat his marksman and volleyed it into the back of the net.
3-0 - Shakhtar inflicted a crushing defeat on Lviv and are preparing for the start of their European campaign in a good mood. On the 3rd of August, the Miners will take on Belgium’s Genk away in the UEFA Champions League 3rd qualifying round first leg.
Lviv 0-3 (0-0) Shakhtar Donetsk
Lviv, Arena Lviv, att: 8,640
Goals: 0-1 Traore (73’), 0-2 Dentinho (85’), 0-3 Pedrinho (90+4’)
Shakhtar: Trubin, Dodo, Marlon, Matviienko, Korniienko (Ismaily, 65’), Marcos (Maycon, 73’), Stepanenko (c), Tete (Marlos, 65’), Patrick (Pedrinho, 73’), Solomon, Traore (Dentinho, 84’)
Further details are available in the match centre.