We are in the Ukrainian Cup final!
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
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Shakhtar hosted Chornomorets in Lviv in the Ukrainian Cup semi-final match
Head coach of the Orange-and-Blacks Marino Pusic made only one change in the starting line-up compared to previous game of the team: Brazilian Eguinaldo appeared on the right attacking wing.
The first symbolic kick was performed by defender of Ukraine Roman Meshcheriakov, who defended Mariupol and Azovstal in the 23rd Sea Guard Unit of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. The ordeals of Russian captivity did not break the warrior, and today he continues to serve in the 7th Carpathian Border Detachment.
Advantage thanks to the goals by Sikan and Bondarenko
The teams started without scouting and scored goals quite early. Shakhtar were more active at the start and created a number of goal-scoring opportunities in the beginning: Eguinaldo narrowly missed the far corner after Kevin’s cross, Sikan shot over the target after Konoplia’s wing pass from the centre of the penalty area, and Bondarenko completed the interaction between Eguinaldo and Konoplia with a shot directly into the goalkeeper. And the Miners opened the scoring in the 12th minute: the defenders blocked Eguinaldo’s cross, but Sudakov picked up the ball in the right corner of the penalty area and found Danylo Sikan with a perfect pass, the latter scored into an unguarded net – 1-0. However, the host team’s joy did not last very long, because in the 18th minute Odesa team equalised the score, when Yermakov’s shot was blocked by the defenders after a passing move, and Andrii Shtohrin was the first to pursue rebounds. Marino Pusic’s team regained control over the ball, and although the middle of the half passed in duels and without chances, Shakhtar players became more active again closer to the break. First, Kevin created a beautiful moment, when he responded to Konoplia’s pass in the centre of the penalty area, juggled the ball on his foot and made an overhead shot while falling – the goalkeeper caught the ball. In the next attack, Kryskiv curved the ball into the far corner from a corner kick – the visiting team were saved by the post. And a minute before the break, the Orange-and-Blacks took the lead for the second time: Sikan earned a spot-kick, which Artem Bondarenko converted with a shot into the right bottom corner – 2-1.
Sudakov’s benefit and a crushing victory
At the beginning of the second half of the match, there was a change in Shakhtar line-up: Pedrinho replaced Azarov. And already in the 52nd minute, the host team strengthened their lead – Heorhii Sudakov picked up the ball on the left wing, dribbled it 30 metres on his own and, entering the penalty area, hit the bottom left corner– 3-1. Immediately, the Orange-and-Blacks had opportunities to score more: after Sudakov’s cross, Eguinaldo did not manage to turn it to the far post, and Kevin tried to repeat Heorhii’s solo goal, but he shot in centimetres from the post from outside the penalty area. Odesa team also created their moments in the middle of the half: First, Riznyk did not allow Boichuk to put pressure on him, and then saved Yermakov’s shot in the bottom corner. In the 68th minute, the coaching staff of Shakhtar made a triple substitution, and Stepanenko, Traore and Zubkov appeared on the field. Oleksandr soon had a chance to score when he shot into the near corner in his trademark style, after dribbling on the right wing – Varakuta saved the visiting team. The final score was set in the 79th minute: Bondar dispossessed the opponents of the ball near his own goal and passed to Traore, the Burkinian made a cross to Heorhii Sudakov for a run through the right wing, the latter beat two opponents and hit the far corner.
4-1 – Shakhtar confidently defeated Chornomorets and reached the Ukrainian Cup final, where they will face the winner of the match between Polissia and Vorskla on May 15.
And next Sunday, April 7, Marino Pusic’s team will play the UPL home match against Rukh. The game will take place at Arena Lviv and will kick off at 18:00.
Shakhtar Donetsk 4-1 (2-1) Chornomorets Odesa
Lviv, Arena Lviv, 500 spectators
Goals: 1-0 Sikan (12′), 1-1 Shtohrin (18′), 2-1 Bondarenko (44′, pen.), 3-1 Sudakov (52′), 4-1 Sudakov (79′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Konoplia, Bondar, Matviienko (c), Azarov (Pedrinho, 46′), Kryskiv, Bondarenko, Sudakov (Marlon Gomes, 81′), Eguinaldo (Zubkov, 68′), Kevin (Stepanenko, 68′), Sikan (Traore, 68′)
The first symbolic kick was performed by defender of Ukraine Roman Meshcheriakov, who defended Mariupol and Azovstal in the 23rd Sea Guard Unit of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. The ordeals of Russian captivity did not break the warrior, and today he continues to serve in the 7th Carpathian Border Detachment.
Advantage thanks to the goals by Sikan and Bondarenko
The teams started without scouting and scored goals quite early. Shakhtar were more active at the start and created a number of goal-scoring opportunities in the beginning: Eguinaldo narrowly missed the far corner after Kevin’s cross, Sikan shot over the target after Konoplia’s wing pass from the centre of the penalty area, and Bondarenko completed the interaction between Eguinaldo and Konoplia with a shot directly into the goalkeeper. And the Miners opened the scoring in the 12th minute: the defenders blocked Eguinaldo’s cross, but Sudakov picked up the ball in the right corner of the penalty area and found Danylo Sikan with a perfect pass, the latter scored into an unguarded net – 1-0. However, the host team’s joy did not last very long, because in the 18th minute Odesa team equalised the score, when Yermakov’s shot was blocked by the defenders after a passing move, and Andrii Shtohrin was the first to pursue rebounds. Marino Pusic’s team regained control over the ball, and although the middle of the half passed in duels and without chances, Shakhtar players became more active again closer to the break. First, Kevin created a beautiful moment, when he responded to Konoplia’s pass in the centre of the penalty area, juggled the ball on his foot and made an overhead shot while falling – the goalkeeper caught the ball. In the next attack, Kryskiv curved the ball into the far corner from a corner kick – the visiting team were saved by the post. And a minute before the break, the Orange-and-Blacks took the lead for the second time: Sikan earned a spot-kick, which Artem Bondarenko converted with a shot into the right bottom corner – 2-1.
Sudakov’s benefit and a crushing victory
At the beginning of the second half of the match, there was a change in Shakhtar line-up: Pedrinho replaced Azarov. And already in the 52nd minute, the host team strengthened their lead – Heorhii Sudakov picked up the ball on the left wing, dribbled it 30 metres on his own and, entering the penalty area, hit the bottom left corner– 3-1. Immediately, the Orange-and-Blacks had opportunities to score more: after Sudakov’s cross, Eguinaldo did not manage to turn it to the far post, and Kevin tried to repeat Heorhii’s solo goal, but he shot in centimetres from the post from outside the penalty area. Odesa team also created their moments in the middle of the half: First, Riznyk did not allow Boichuk to put pressure on him, and then saved Yermakov’s shot in the bottom corner. In the 68th minute, the coaching staff of Shakhtar made a triple substitution, and Stepanenko, Traore and Zubkov appeared on the field. Oleksandr soon had a chance to score when he shot into the near corner in his trademark style, after dribbling on the right wing – Varakuta saved the visiting team. The final score was set in the 79th minute: Bondar dispossessed the opponents of the ball near his own goal and passed to Traore, the Burkinian made a cross to Heorhii Sudakov for a run through the right wing, the latter beat two opponents and hit the far corner.
4-1 – Shakhtar confidently defeated Chornomorets and reached the Ukrainian Cup final, where they will face the winner of the match between Polissia and Vorskla on May 15.
And next Sunday, April 7, Marino Pusic’s team will play the UPL home match against Rukh. The game will take place at Arena Lviv and will kick off at 18:00.
Shakhtar Donetsk 4-1 (2-1) Chornomorets Odesa
Lviv, Arena Lviv, 500 spectators
Goals: 1-0 Sikan (12′), 1-1 Shtohrin (18′), 2-1 Bondarenko (44′, pen.), 3-1 Sudakov (52′), 4-1 Sudakov (79′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Konoplia, Bondar, Matviienko (c), Azarov (Pedrinho, 46′), Kryskiv, Bondarenko, Sudakov (Marlon Gomes, 81′), Eguinaldo (Zubkov, 68′), Kevin (Stepanenko, 68′), Sikan (Traore, 68′)
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