Shakhtar 2-0 Veres
Friday, December 8, 2023
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Shakhtar hosted Veres at Arena Lviv in the match of the 17th round of the Premier League
Head coach of Shakhtar Marino Pusic traditionally did not apply extensive rotation, and there was one change in the starting line-up of the Orange-and-Blacks compared to the previous match: Taras Stepanenko, who skipped the game due to excess of cards, was replaced by Heorhii Sudakov, who returned to the centre of the field after his one-match suspension.
A symbolic first kick was performed by defender of Ukraine Petro Kornaha, a volunteer soldier of the 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigade, who defended our country from the first days of the war and was seriously wounded near Mykolaiv. He is also a player of military veterans team Pokrova Lviv Amputee Football.
Starting pressure and early goal
The opening stages of the match passed with a noticeable game advantage of the Miners, who actively went forward and quickly achieved success. If Past saved Sikan’s shot from the penalty area, in the 14th minute, the interaction between Zubkov and Kryskiv ended with Dmytro’s shot – 1-0. Then Zubkov could have scored, but his shot into the near corner was saved by the goalkeeper. Shakhtar continued to confidently control the game, gradually destabilising the defence of the visiting team, but it did not lead to the goal-scoring chances. Bondar headed dangerously after a cross from a free kick – off target, and Newerton’s sharp pass to Sikan was intercepted by Veres defender.
Persistent Zubkov and another clean sheet
Immediately after the break, the Miners got a chance to double the advantage, when referee Kateryna Monzul awarded a spot-kick for the ball hitting Shevchenko’s arm in the penalty area. However, Past saved Zubkov’s spot-kick, and Sikan sent the ball into the goal, but he was offside. Sudakov could have scored – his shot was blocked by Balan, and Cesar intercepted Azarov’s pass to Sikan at the last minute. In the middle of the half, the coaching staff of the Orange-and-Blacks made substitutions, fielding Eguinaldo, Kelsy and Nazaryna. And in the 69th minute, Shakhtar scored a second goal: Gocholeishvili made a cross from the right wing, the ball bounced to Oleksandr Zubkov, who sent it into the top corner with a spectacular shot – 2-0. The fresh players had a chance to score, but the goalkeeper saved Rivne team again, when he managed Eguinaldo’s shot and Kelsy’s follow-up. Before the end of the game, the Venezuelan forward had at least a couple of good moments: first he did not manage to head the ball properly after Bondarenko’s cross, then the ball hit the crossbar after Kevin’s shot and deflection. In the added time, Nazaryna decided to make a long-range shot, but Past played reliably in this case.
2-0 – Shakhtar defeated Veres in the last game of the first part of the Ukrainian League.
Marino Pusic’s team will hold the final official match of the year on Wednesday, December 13. The Miners will play against Porto for a place in the play-offs in the 6th round of the UEFA Champions League. The match at Estádio do Dragão will kick off at 22:00 Kyiv time.
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 (1-0) Veres Rivne
Lviv, Arena Lviv, without spectators
Goals: 1-0 Kryskiv (14′), 2-0 Zubkov (69′)
Missed penalties: Zubkov (50′, goalkeeper)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Gocholeishvili, Bondar, Matviienko (c), Azarov, Bondarenko, Kryskiv (Nazaryna, 65′), Sudakov, Zubkov (Kashchuk, 88′), Newerton (Eguinaldo, 62′), Sikan (Kelsy, 62′)
A symbolic first kick was performed by defender of Ukraine Petro Kornaha, a volunteer soldier of the 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigade, who defended our country from the first days of the war and was seriously wounded near Mykolaiv. He is also a player of military veterans team Pokrova Lviv Amputee Football.
Starting pressure and early goal
The opening stages of the match passed with a noticeable game advantage of the Miners, who actively went forward and quickly achieved success. If Past saved Sikan’s shot from the penalty area, in the 14th minute, the interaction between Zubkov and Kryskiv ended with Dmytro’s shot – 1-0. Then Zubkov could have scored, but his shot into the near corner was saved by the goalkeeper. Shakhtar continued to confidently control the game, gradually destabilising the defence of the visiting team, but it did not lead to the goal-scoring chances. Bondar headed dangerously after a cross from a free kick – off target, and Newerton’s sharp pass to Sikan was intercepted by Veres defender.
Persistent Zubkov and another clean sheet
Immediately after the break, the Miners got a chance to double the advantage, when referee Kateryna Monzul awarded a spot-kick for the ball hitting Shevchenko’s arm in the penalty area. However, Past saved Zubkov’s spot-kick, and Sikan sent the ball into the goal, but he was offside. Sudakov could have scored – his shot was blocked by Balan, and Cesar intercepted Azarov’s pass to Sikan at the last minute. In the middle of the half, the coaching staff of the Orange-and-Blacks made substitutions, fielding Eguinaldo, Kelsy and Nazaryna. And in the 69th minute, Shakhtar scored a second goal: Gocholeishvili made a cross from the right wing, the ball bounced to Oleksandr Zubkov, who sent it into the top corner with a spectacular shot – 2-0. The fresh players had a chance to score, but the goalkeeper saved Rivne team again, when he managed Eguinaldo’s shot and Kelsy’s follow-up. Before the end of the game, the Venezuelan forward had at least a couple of good moments: first he did not manage to head the ball properly after Bondarenko’s cross, then the ball hit the crossbar after Kevin’s shot and deflection. In the added time, Nazaryna decided to make a long-range shot, but Past played reliably in this case.
2-0 – Shakhtar defeated Veres in the last game of the first part of the Ukrainian League.
Marino Pusic’s team will hold the final official match of the year on Wednesday, December 13. The Miners will play against Porto for a place in the play-offs in the 6th round of the UEFA Champions League. The match at Estádio do Dragão will kick off at 22:00 Kyiv time.
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 (1-0) Veres Rivne
Lviv, Arena Lviv, without spectators
Goals: 1-0 Kryskiv (14′), 2-0 Zubkov (69′)
Missed penalties: Zubkov (50′, goalkeeper)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Gocholeishvili, Bondar, Matviienko (c), Azarov, Bondarenko, Kryskiv (Nazaryna, 65′), Sudakov, Zubkov (Kashchuk, 88′), Newerton (Eguinaldo, 62′), Sikan (Kelsy, 62′)
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