Three points in Uzhhorod
Saturday, April 8, 2023
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Shakhtar hosted Metalist in the 20th round of the UPL in Uzhhorod
Head coach of the Miners Igor Jovicevic made some adjustments in the starting line-up compared to the previous game. Gocholeishvili played as a right-back again, Bondar and Rakitskyi were in the centre of defence, and Matviienko played on the left. Captain Stepanenko returned to the line-up, Djurasek and Bondarenko came on next to him, Sudakov and Kryskiv appeared on the attacking wings, and Sikan was in the central forward position.
Game advantage and unconverted chances
Already in the beginning of the match, the top goalscorer of the Orange-and-Blacks in this championship had a great chance to score – Kryskiv led Sikan to the goal in the centre, Danylo shot into the right corner, but the goalkeeper reached and put the ball into the post. After a corner, Stepanenko headed the ball a little off target. Shakhtar attacked almost continuously: Djurasek had a good opportunity, but he did not dare to shoot from the goalmouth corner, but made a cross to Sikan, who failed to reach the ball. Kharkiv team responded with Boichuk’s long-range shot – off target. From the middle of the half, the game was slowed down by regular collisions, which led to yellow cards for both sides, as well as the injury of Neven Djurasek, who was replaced by Oleh Ocheretko in the 40th minute. The Miners could open the scoring in the last minutes before the break: Gocholeishvili made a great shot with his left foot, but hit the crossbar, which the ball almost deflected off into the net – the goalkeeper kicked it out from the goal line. And a moment later, Kryskiv should have scored, but Yermolov reacted incredibly to his close-range shot again.
Bondarenko’s winning goal
At the start of the second half, Shakhtar gave the initiative to the opponents in order to get more free space for quick attacks, while not losing control over the situation on the field. In order to add dynamics, Igor Jovicevic made two substitutions, releasing Traore and Topalov. Ocheretko had a good moment, after Gocholeishvili’s cross, he shot on the volley – the keeper turned it for a corner. And after this corner in the 64th minute the Orange-and-Blacks managed to score: a prolonged play on the left wing ended with Sudakov’s graceful pass to the centre of the penalty area, where Artem Bondarenko stopped the ball with his chest and made a low-driven shot after a scoop turn – 1-0. Shortly after, Traore could double the advantage, shooting at the goal from three meters, but the ball hit Yermolov, from whom it flew to the crossbar (for the third time, the woodwork saved the visiting team). A few minutes later, Lassina himself created a similar opportunity for Sudakov, but again the goalkeeper blocked a close-range shot. Boichuk had a chance to equalize the score at the end of the game – his header passed near the woodwork. And in the last seconds, Priadun almost took advantage of Trubin’s mistake, but Shakhtar goalkeeper corrected himself and blocked the shot.
1-0 – Shakhtar defeated Metalist and continue to top the UPL standings with 46 points.
On April 12 and 16, the Miners will play two consecutive matches against Lviv. Both meetings will be held at Arena Lviv and will kick off at 14:00.
Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 (0-0) Metalist Kharkiv
Uzhhorod, Avanhard, without spectators
Goal: 1-0 Bondarenko (64′)
Shakhtar: Trubin, Gocholeishvili, Bondar, Rakitskyi, Matviienko, Stepanenko (c), Bondarenko, Djurasek (Ocheretko, 40′), Kryskiv (Topalov, 61′), Sudakov (Totovytskyi, 90′+2), Sikan (Traore, 61′)
Game advantage and unconverted chances
Already in the beginning of the match, the top goalscorer of the Orange-and-Blacks in this championship had a great chance to score – Kryskiv led Sikan to the goal in the centre, Danylo shot into the right corner, but the goalkeeper reached and put the ball into the post. After a corner, Stepanenko headed the ball a little off target. Shakhtar attacked almost continuously: Djurasek had a good opportunity, but he did not dare to shoot from the goalmouth corner, but made a cross to Sikan, who failed to reach the ball. Kharkiv team responded with Boichuk’s long-range shot – off target. From the middle of the half, the game was slowed down by regular collisions, which led to yellow cards for both sides, as well as the injury of Neven Djurasek, who was replaced by Oleh Ocheretko in the 40th minute. The Miners could open the scoring in the last minutes before the break: Gocholeishvili made a great shot with his left foot, but hit the crossbar, which the ball almost deflected off into the net – the goalkeeper kicked it out from the goal line. And a moment later, Kryskiv should have scored, but Yermolov reacted incredibly to his close-range shot again.
Bondarenko’s winning goal
At the start of the second half, Shakhtar gave the initiative to the opponents in order to get more free space for quick attacks, while not losing control over the situation on the field. In order to add dynamics, Igor Jovicevic made two substitutions, releasing Traore and Topalov. Ocheretko had a good moment, after Gocholeishvili’s cross, he shot on the volley – the keeper turned it for a corner. And after this corner in the 64th minute the Orange-and-Blacks managed to score: a prolonged play on the left wing ended with Sudakov’s graceful pass to the centre of the penalty area, where Artem Bondarenko stopped the ball with his chest and made a low-driven shot after a scoop turn – 1-0. Shortly after, Traore could double the advantage, shooting at the goal from three meters, but the ball hit Yermolov, from whom it flew to the crossbar (for the third time, the woodwork saved the visiting team). A few minutes later, Lassina himself created a similar opportunity for Sudakov, but again the goalkeeper blocked a close-range shot. Boichuk had a chance to equalize the score at the end of the game – his header passed near the woodwork. And in the last seconds, Priadun almost took advantage of Trubin’s mistake, but Shakhtar goalkeeper corrected himself and blocked the shot.
1-0 – Shakhtar defeated Metalist and continue to top the UPL standings with 46 points.
On April 12 and 16, the Miners will play two consecutive matches against Lviv. Both meetings will be held at Arena Lviv and will kick off at 14:00.
Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 (0-0) Metalist Kharkiv
Uzhhorod, Avanhard, without spectators
Goal: 1-0 Bondarenko (64′)
Shakhtar: Trubin, Gocholeishvili, Bondar, Rakitskyi, Matviienko, Stepanenko (c), Bondarenko, Djurasek (Ocheretko, 40′), Kryskiv (Topalov, 61′), Sudakov (Totovytskyi, 90′+2), Sikan (Traore, 61′)
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