Everything will be decided in France
Thursday, February 15, 2024
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Shakhtar hosted Marseille in the UEFA Europa League knockout round play-off first leg in Hamburg
Head coach of the Miners Marino Pusic picked the following line-up for the opening competitive game in 2024: Riznyk took his place between the sticks, Bondar and Matviienko appeared at centre-back, Konoplia and Azarov played as fullbacks, captain Stepanenko returned to the midfield after injury accompanied by Bondarenko and Sudakov, with Zubkov (right) and Eguinaldo (left) playing as wingers and Sikan getting the centre-forward role.
Careful play before the break
The match kicked off promisingly: already in the 2nd minute, the Pitmen got a great chance to open the score when the French side goalkeeper made a mistake taking a goal kick – Zubkov got the ball and powerfully stroke into the roof of the net from the edge of the box, but Pau Lopez turned it for a corner. Later on, teams acted more cautiously, and although they alternately played fluidly in the opposing half of the field, there were almost no dangerous situations. A controversial episode took place in the middle of the half: Zubkov fell in a collision with an opponent during attack of the Orange-and-Blacks, but Sikan and Eguinaldo finished off the episode that ended with a goal from the Brazilian. However, the referee stopped the game, did not count the scored goal and only awarded a free kick against Marseilles despite all the arguments of the Miners. Soon, Eguinaldo had another opportunity to score after a cool move of his teammates: Konoplia perfectly brought the ball to the line of the penalty area, with the Brazilian shooting too high. The teams left for a break with 0-0 score.
Saving goals from Matviienko and Eguinaldo, Kevin’s debut
At the beginning of the second half, the teams exchanged dangerous counterattacks. Ounahi narrowly missed the right corner from the edge of the box and Gigot’s header following a corner kick ended in Riznyk's hands. The Pitmen responded with a quick attack finished by Eguinaldo (hit the net from the outside) and Zubkov's long-ranger (wide). In the 57th minute, the French side conceded another one, but the referee disallowed the goal again, registering a foul from Sikan. The opponents increased the pace and created more opportunities: Luis Henrique headed from the centre of the goal area, but missed the target; Sikan burst into the penalty area of the Provencals and aimed at the far corner only to see Pau Lopez’s save. And yet it was the guests who opened the score: in the 64th minute, after a cross from the right wing, Aubameyang closed the far post in a touch. But already in the 68th minute, Marino Pusic’s men came back: after a cross from the set piece and a clearance from the defenders, Konoplia returned the ball to the penalty area, with the unmarked Mykola Matviienko hitting the goal of the Marseille team – 1-1. In the middle of the half, the coaching staff of the Orange-and-Blacks made a forced substitution: Nazaryna appeared in the field instead of Stepanenko who injured his hamstring. In the 77th minute, Kevin made his debut for Shakhtar, with Gocholeishvili also appearing. In the remaining time, both teams did not stop trying to win and brought a frantic finish to the meeting. In the 90th minute, Ndiaye put the visitors ahead through Aubameyang's pass. But in the third compensated minute, Zubkov run down the right flank and crossed to the penalty area, with Eguinaldo heading it into the net!
2-2 – a draw in the first leg between Shakhtar and Marseille. The future of the next stage berth will be decided in a week when the teams meet in France.
The UEFA Europa League knockout phase return leg between Marseille and Shakhtar will take place on February 22 at the Stade de Marseille. The game kicks off at 21:00 local time (22:00 Kyiv time).
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-2 (0-0) Olympique de Marseille
Hamburg, Volksparkstadion, att.: 28,790
Goals: 0-1 Aubameyang (64′), 1-1 Matviienko (68′), 1-2 Ndiaye (90′), 2-2 Eguinaldo (90+3′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Konoplia (Gocholeishvili, 77′), Bondar, Matviienko, Azarov, Stepanenko (c) (Nazaryna, 72′), Bondarenko (Traore, 90+2′), Sudakov, Zubkov, Eguinaldo, Sikan (Kevin, 77′)
Careful play before the break
The match kicked off promisingly: already in the 2nd minute, the Pitmen got a great chance to open the score when the French side goalkeeper made a mistake taking a goal kick – Zubkov got the ball and powerfully stroke into the roof of the net from the edge of the box, but Pau Lopez turned it for a corner. Later on, teams acted more cautiously, and although they alternately played fluidly in the opposing half of the field, there were almost no dangerous situations. A controversial episode took place in the middle of the half: Zubkov fell in a collision with an opponent during attack of the Orange-and-Blacks, but Sikan and Eguinaldo finished off the episode that ended with a goal from the Brazilian. However, the referee stopped the game, did not count the scored goal and only awarded a free kick against Marseilles despite all the arguments of the Miners. Soon, Eguinaldo had another opportunity to score after a cool move of his teammates: Konoplia perfectly brought the ball to the line of the penalty area, with the Brazilian shooting too high. The teams left for a break with 0-0 score.
Saving goals from Matviienko and Eguinaldo, Kevin’s debut
At the beginning of the second half, the teams exchanged dangerous counterattacks. Ounahi narrowly missed the right corner from the edge of the box and Gigot’s header following a corner kick ended in Riznyk's hands. The Pitmen responded with a quick attack finished by Eguinaldo (hit the net from the outside) and Zubkov's long-ranger (wide). In the 57th minute, the French side conceded another one, but the referee disallowed the goal again, registering a foul from Sikan. The opponents increased the pace and created more opportunities: Luis Henrique headed from the centre of the goal area, but missed the target; Sikan burst into the penalty area of the Provencals and aimed at the far corner only to see Pau Lopez’s save. And yet it was the guests who opened the score: in the 64th minute, after a cross from the right wing, Aubameyang closed the far post in a touch. But already in the 68th minute, Marino Pusic’s men came back: after a cross from the set piece and a clearance from the defenders, Konoplia returned the ball to the penalty area, with the unmarked Mykola Matviienko hitting the goal of the Marseille team – 1-1. In the middle of the half, the coaching staff of the Orange-and-Blacks made a forced substitution: Nazaryna appeared in the field instead of Stepanenko who injured his hamstring. In the 77th minute, Kevin made his debut for Shakhtar, with Gocholeishvili also appearing. In the remaining time, both teams did not stop trying to win and brought a frantic finish to the meeting. In the 90th minute, Ndiaye put the visitors ahead through Aubameyang's pass. But in the third compensated minute, Zubkov run down the right flank and crossed to the penalty area, with Eguinaldo heading it into the net!
2-2 – a draw in the first leg between Shakhtar and Marseille. The future of the next stage berth will be decided in a week when the teams meet in France.
The UEFA Europa League knockout phase return leg between Marseille and Shakhtar will take place on February 22 at the Stade de Marseille. The game kicks off at 21:00 local time (22:00 Kyiv time).
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-2 (0-0) Olympique de Marseille
Hamburg, Volksparkstadion, att.: 28,790
Goals: 0-1 Aubameyang (64′), 1-1 Matviienko (68′), 1-2 Ndiaye (90′), 2-2 Eguinaldo (90+3′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Konoplia (Gocholeishvili, 77′), Bondar, Matviienko, Azarov, Stepanenko (c) (Nazaryna, 72′), Bondarenko (Traore, 90+2′), Sudakov, Zubkov, Eguinaldo, Sikan (Kevin, 77′)
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