120-minute friendly game
Sunday, January 28, 2024
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On January 28, Shakhtar played a test match against Slovenian Maribor
By agreement, the teams played the friendly game in the format of 4 halves of 30 minutes each. From the first minutes, head coach of Shakhtar Marino Pusic fielded the same starting line-up, which kicked off the previous match against Lech (3-1), with one change – Danylo Sikan played at the helm this time.
Full control and Sikan’s chances but without goals
The Miners immediately seized the initiative, kicked off the ball wide with quick passes from wing to wing. Sudakov had a dangerous opportunity already in the beginning, but his shot from outside the penalty area was saved by the goalkeeper of the Slovenian team. On the left sideline, Kevin distinguished himself by impressive actions, destabilising the opponents with dribbling and heal passes to the teammates. And after the Brazilian’s cross and Konoplia’s dropping, Sikan dangerously shot from the box line – the goalkeeper saved the team again, pulling the ball out from under the crossbar. In another two episodes, Sikan was led to the advantageous positions for a shot first by Bondarenko, and then by Sudakov, but the forward failed to turn these chances into goals. Despite the almost undivided possession of the ball and permanent pressure on the goal of Maribor, the Ukrainian champion did not manage to score within 60 minutes.
Teams’ attempts to score
In the second 60-minute half, the coaching staff of Shakhtar completely changed the line-up and fielded Tvardovskyi, Gocholeishvili, Lemkin, Rakitskyi, Azarov, Ocheretko, Nazaryna, Tsukanov, Newerton, Shved and Eguinaldo. Shakhtar started with a clear focus on long-range shots, thus creating three chances already in the first mini-half. Tsukanov decided to take a powerful shot from the penalty area line, but the ball flew in centimetres from the post. Shved shot in a similar style from the left corner of the penalty area – also nearby. And Eguinaldo was the closest to the goal: after his shot, the ball hit one post, rolled along the goal line, hit another post and flew off to the field. From the start of the last 30 minutes, the Slovenes also played more actively, but did not invent anything, except for a few set pieces and sharp passes to the penalty area, which were easily read and intercepted by Denys Tvardovskyi and the centre-backs of the Orange-and-Blacks. The Miners continued to test the opponent with long-range attempts: Rakitskyi’s shot from the penalty area missed the target, and Azarov’s powerful shot went over the crossbar. The Brazilians arranged the best moment at the end of the meeting: Newerton found Eguinaldo in the penalty area, the latter then made a one-touch shot into the far corner from the left edge of the goalmouth, but again missed by a few centimetres.
0-0 – a draw in the two-hour friendly game between Shakhtar and Maribor.
Marino Pusic’s team completed the first part of the winter training camp in Turkey with this match. The team have a few days of rest ahead, after which the Miners will resume work in Belek and continue preparing for the second half of the season.
Shakhtar Donetsk 0-0 (0-0) Maribor
Antalya, Mardan Stadium, 200 spectators
Shakhtar: Riznyk (Tvardovskyi, 61′), Konoplia (Gocholeishvili, 61′), Bondar (Lemkin, 61′), Matviienko (c) (Rakitskyi, 61′), Pedrinho (Azarov, 61′), Kryskiv (Nazaryna, 61′), Bondarenko (Ocheretko, 61′), Sudakov (Tsukanov, 61′), Zubkov (Shved, 61′), Kevin (Newerton, 61′), Sikan (Eguinaldo, 61′)
Full control and Sikan’s chances but without goals
The Miners immediately seized the initiative, kicked off the ball wide with quick passes from wing to wing. Sudakov had a dangerous opportunity already in the beginning, but his shot from outside the penalty area was saved by the goalkeeper of the Slovenian team. On the left sideline, Kevin distinguished himself by impressive actions, destabilising the opponents with dribbling and heal passes to the teammates. And after the Brazilian’s cross and Konoplia’s dropping, Sikan dangerously shot from the box line – the goalkeeper saved the team again, pulling the ball out from under the crossbar. In another two episodes, Sikan was led to the advantageous positions for a shot first by Bondarenko, and then by Sudakov, but the forward failed to turn these chances into goals. Despite the almost undivided possession of the ball and permanent pressure on the goal of Maribor, the Ukrainian champion did not manage to score within 60 minutes.
Teams’ attempts to score
In the second 60-minute half, the coaching staff of Shakhtar completely changed the line-up and fielded Tvardovskyi, Gocholeishvili, Lemkin, Rakitskyi, Azarov, Ocheretko, Nazaryna, Tsukanov, Newerton, Shved and Eguinaldo. Shakhtar started with a clear focus on long-range shots, thus creating three chances already in the first mini-half. Tsukanov decided to take a powerful shot from the penalty area line, but the ball flew in centimetres from the post. Shved shot in a similar style from the left corner of the penalty area – also nearby. And Eguinaldo was the closest to the goal: after his shot, the ball hit one post, rolled along the goal line, hit another post and flew off to the field. From the start of the last 30 minutes, the Slovenes also played more actively, but did not invent anything, except for a few set pieces and sharp passes to the penalty area, which were easily read and intercepted by Denys Tvardovskyi and the centre-backs of the Orange-and-Blacks. The Miners continued to test the opponent with long-range attempts: Rakitskyi’s shot from the penalty area missed the target, and Azarov’s powerful shot went over the crossbar. The Brazilians arranged the best moment at the end of the meeting: Newerton found Eguinaldo in the penalty area, the latter then made a one-touch shot into the far corner from the left edge of the goalmouth, but again missed by a few centimetres.
0-0 – a draw in the two-hour friendly game between Shakhtar and Maribor.
Marino Pusic’s team completed the first part of the winter training camp in Turkey with this match. The team have a few days of rest ahead, after which the Miners will resume work in Belek and continue preparing for the second half of the season.
Shakhtar Donetsk 0-0 (0-0) Maribor
Antalya, Mardan Stadium, 200 spectators
Shakhtar: Riznyk (Tvardovskyi, 61′), Konoplia (Gocholeishvili, 61′), Bondar (Lemkin, 61′), Matviienko (c) (Rakitskyi, 61′), Pedrinho (Azarov, 61′), Kryskiv (Nazaryna, 61′), Bondarenko (Ocheretko, 61′), Sudakov (Tsukanov, 61′), Zubkov (Shved, 61′), Kevin (Newerton, 61′), Sikan (Eguinaldo, 61′)
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