Shakhtar are in the European spring!

The Miners approached this meeting with 6 points and in the third place in the group, the Belgians have not gained a single point in 4 games. The head coach of the Orange-and-Blacks Marino Pusic made only one change in the starting line-up compared to the previous European Cup match against Barcelona (1-0): Irakli Azarov played on the left defensive wing from the first minutes.

Matviienko’s early goal and Riznyk’s saves

The Ukrainians started the match actively and immediately intensified the situation near the opponent’s goal. And if in the very beginning Newerton missed the target with a shot from outside the penalty area, in the 12th minute the scoring was opened: Zubkov made a cross to the near corner of the goalmouth after a free kick from the left wing, and Mykola Matviienko headed the ball into the net while falling – 1-0. The Belgians seized the initiative in the middle of the half and created several dangerous moments, but Dmytro Riznyk repeatedly saved the team: he first reacted to the deflection from Bondar after Balikwisha’s shot, then he saved Muja’s powerful shot from the penalty area line into the near corner and blocked Muja’s chip shot under the crossbar. Marino Pusic’s team also had the opportunity to widen their lead. Newerton shot into the goalkeeper after Kryskiv’s pass, and Sudakov headed the ball over the crossbar. And shortly before the break, Newerton beat the opponent on the wing excellently and passed the ball to Sudakov, but this shot by Heorhii went just above the target.

Classy game and well-deserved victory

At the start of the second half, Balikwisha almost hit the top corner of the goal of the host team with an unsuccessful cross, but Riznyk was in his position in this case too. The Miners created 2 great opportunities within 5 minutes: Antwerp goalkeeper turned Azarov’s powerful shot into the crossbar, and then Stepanenko disturbed the top woodwork with a signature long-range shot also through hands of Butez. In the 70th minute, the first substitution in the line-up of the Orange-and-Blacks took place: Artem Bondarenko, who replaced Newerton, returned to the field after the injury. During almost the entire half, Shakhtar systematically destroyed all attempts by the Belgians to create something in the attack even in the far reaches to their penalty area. And in the added time, both teams had a super moment. The teammates put Bondarenko in one on one during a quick attack, he then beat the goalkeeper, but the shot hit the defender of the visiting team, and after Sudakov’s follow-up, the ball flew in centimetres from the post. In response, Alderweireld received the ball on the box line and shot after a scoop turn – Riznyk’s save again.

1-0 – Shakhtar defeated Antwerp and secured the European spring! The Miners also have a chance to compete for advancement to the Champions League Round of 16: for this, Shakhtar need to win an away match against Porto in the last round on December 13.

Meanwhile, next Sunday, December 3, Marino Pusic’s team will play the UPL match against Metalist 1925. The game will be held at Arena Lviv and will kick off at 17:00.

Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 (1-0) Antwerp

Hamburg, Volksparkstadion, 47,209 spectators

Goal: 1-0 Matviienko (12′)

Shakhtar: Riznyk, Gocholeishvili, Bondar, Matviienko, Azarov, Stepanenko (c), Kryskiv (Kelsy, 89′), Sudakov, Zubkov, Newerton (Bondarenko, 70′), Sikan (Rakitskyi, 90′+6)

Send-off: Muja (90′+7, second booking)