Charity match
Monday, December 18, 2023
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On December 18, Avispa Fukuoka and Shakhtar played a charity match in Tokyo to raise funds for support of Ukrainians
Shortly before the game, the Support Centre for Ukrainians in Tokyo held a football master class for local children with participation of five Shakhtar players: Bohdan Viunnyk, Dmytro Topalov, Pedrinho, Denil Castillo and Novatus Miroshi.
Footballers of both teams appeared with Ukrainian flags. A large blue-and-yellow flag was unfurled by fans in the central stand of the Japanese National Stadium too. Before the start of the match, the screens showed a video address by Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida who condemned Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, emphasized Japan's support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the right of the Ukrainian people to freedom and independence. Also, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Yoko Kamikawa and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Japan Serhii Korsunskyi addressed the audience with speeches, after which the national anthems of Ukraine and Japan were performed at the stadium.
Shakhtar footballers played in special jerseys with their names written in Japanese. Also, the Miners appeared wearing mourning bands on their sleeves, thus honouring the memory of Anatolii Hros, a former employee of the club who served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and died in December in the Kherson region. The teams and spectators paid a tribute to the war victims in Ukraine with a moment of silence.
Great atmosphere and productive game
The hosts made several dangerous attacks in the opening minutes of the meeting, but it was Marino Pusic's side who managed to score first. In the 7th minute, Giorgi Gocholeishvili crossed from the right wing to the far corner of the goal area where Danylo Sikan got away from the defenders and headed in the opposite direction from the keeper, making it 0-1. Immediately after that, a powerful long-ranger from captain of the Ukrainian outfit Taras Stepanenko whizzed past the goalpost. Newerton had a good chance. He won the ball in the penalty area and shot, however Avispa goalkeeper dealt with it. Another shot from the Brazilian, from outside the penalty area this time, was turned for a corner by Sakata. The hosts stepped up and managed to score twice at the end of the half. In the 34th minute, Riznyk saved the team from two opponents' shots after a corner kick, but Daiki Miya finished it off, equalizing the score. And in the 37th minute, Takeshi Kanamori planted the ball just inside the far post from 10 meters after a wonderful move, putting the Japanese outfit forward.
Everyone had a chance to prove themselves, but Shved scored
Shakhtar coaching staff completely changed the line-up after the break, and already at the beginning of the second half, the Miners equalized. In the 53rd minute, Dmytro Kryskiv found Marian Shved on the right wing with a great diagonal pass, the latter burst into the penalty area and performed a left-footed curled shot into the far corner, making it 2-2. Following this, Kevin Kelsy made an attempt from a distance, but the Japanese goalkeeper blocked it. Shved put Eguinaldo one-on-one, but the Brazilian shot wide. The teams continued to play at a high pace toe-to-toe, exchanging sharp attacks. The hosts responded with their chance: Tanaka shot from the penalty area – Rudko was reliable. Kelsy headed dangerously, however the ball fell on top of the net, and Bohdan Viunnyk's attempt was blocked by the hosts’ defender. 2-2 – draw in the charity match.
It was the final game for the Miners in 2023. The team are going on vacation to get back work in January and prepare for the second part of the season.
Avispa Fukuoka 2-2 (2-1) Shakhtar Donetsk
Tokyo, Japan National Stadium, att.: 18,114
Goals: 0-1 Shved (7′), 1-1 Miya (34′), 2-1 Kanamori (37′), 2-2 Shved (53′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk (Rudko, 46′), Gocholeishvili (Kozik, 46′; Topalov, 74′), Bondar (Lemkin, 46′), Matviienko (Miroshi, 46′), Azarov (Pedrinho, 46′), Stepanenko (c) (Nazaryna, 46′), Bondarenko (Castillo, 46′; Viunnyk, 74′), Sudakov (Kryskiv, 46′), Zubkov (Shved, 46′), Newerton (Eguinaldo, 46′), Sikan (Kelsy, 46′)
Footballers of both teams appeared with Ukrainian flags. A large blue-and-yellow flag was unfurled by fans in the central stand of the Japanese National Stadium too. Before the start of the match, the screens showed a video address by Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida who condemned Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, emphasized Japan's support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the right of the Ukrainian people to freedom and independence. Also, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Yoko Kamikawa and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Japan Serhii Korsunskyi addressed the audience with speeches, after which the national anthems of Ukraine and Japan were performed at the stadium.
Shakhtar footballers played in special jerseys with their names written in Japanese. Also, the Miners appeared wearing mourning bands on their sleeves, thus honouring the memory of Anatolii Hros, a former employee of the club who served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and died in December in the Kherson region. The teams and spectators paid a tribute to the war victims in Ukraine with a moment of silence.
Great atmosphere and productive game
The hosts made several dangerous attacks in the opening minutes of the meeting, but it was Marino Pusic's side who managed to score first. In the 7th minute, Giorgi Gocholeishvili crossed from the right wing to the far corner of the goal area where Danylo Sikan got away from the defenders and headed in the opposite direction from the keeper, making it 0-1. Immediately after that, a powerful long-ranger from captain of the Ukrainian outfit Taras Stepanenko whizzed past the goalpost. Newerton had a good chance. He won the ball in the penalty area and shot, however Avispa goalkeeper dealt with it. Another shot from the Brazilian, from outside the penalty area this time, was turned for a corner by Sakata. The hosts stepped up and managed to score twice at the end of the half. In the 34th minute, Riznyk saved the team from two opponents' shots after a corner kick, but Daiki Miya finished it off, equalizing the score. And in the 37th minute, Takeshi Kanamori planted the ball just inside the far post from 10 meters after a wonderful move, putting the Japanese outfit forward.
Everyone had a chance to prove themselves, but Shved scored
Shakhtar coaching staff completely changed the line-up after the break, and already at the beginning of the second half, the Miners equalized. In the 53rd minute, Dmytro Kryskiv found Marian Shved on the right wing with a great diagonal pass, the latter burst into the penalty area and performed a left-footed curled shot into the far corner, making it 2-2. Following this, Kevin Kelsy made an attempt from a distance, but the Japanese goalkeeper blocked it. Shved put Eguinaldo one-on-one, but the Brazilian shot wide. The teams continued to play at a high pace toe-to-toe, exchanging sharp attacks. The hosts responded with their chance: Tanaka shot from the penalty area – Rudko was reliable. Kelsy headed dangerously, however the ball fell on top of the net, and Bohdan Viunnyk's attempt was blocked by the hosts’ defender. 2-2 – draw in the charity match.
It was the final game for the Miners in 2023. The team are going on vacation to get back work in January and prepare for the second part of the season.
Avispa Fukuoka 2-2 (2-1) Shakhtar Donetsk
Tokyo, Japan National Stadium, att.: 18,114
Goals: 0-1 Shved (7′), 1-1 Miya (34′), 2-1 Kanamori (37′), 2-2 Shved (53′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk (Rudko, 46′), Gocholeishvili (Kozik, 46′; Topalov, 74′), Bondar (Lemkin, 46′), Matviienko (Miroshi, 46′), Azarov (Pedrinho, 46′), Stepanenko (c) (Nazaryna, 46′), Bondarenko (Castillo, 46′; Viunnyk, 74′), Sudakov (Kryskiv, 46′), Zubkov (Shved, 46′), Newerton (Eguinaldo, 46′), Sikan (Kelsy, 46′)
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