Winners of the Ukrainian Cup!
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
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Shakhtar faced Vorskla in the final match of the Ukrainian Cup
Head coach of the Miners Marino Pusic made only one substitution in the starting line-up compared to the Saturday’s title-match: captain Taras Stepanenko came on in the centre of the field from the first minutes instead of Heorhii Sudakov, who was injured.
A half under control and Sikan’s goal right before the break
The teams started the meeting cautiously and did not rush to attack forcefully in the starting stretch, focusing on finding the weak points of the opponent. As expected, the Orange-and-Blacks were in possession of the ball more and combined in the opponent’s half of the field for a long time, while Poltava team were waiting for a chance during the counterattack. One of these episodes almost led to Kane’s one-on-one, but Riznyk ran out of the penalty area in time and outplayed the Malian. In response, Shakhtar created the first dangerous moment: Kevin dealt with two opponents on his wing and made a cross to the far post, which Konoplia tried to turn right home with a header – the ball flew in the direction of the goalkeeper, but also past the goal. A few minutes later, Kane was in a shooting position, but he hit Riznyk from a tight angle. Towards the end of the half, Shakhtar again took the ball under their control, and Zubkov had chances to score: first he hit the wall from penalty area, and then Isenko managed his long-range attempt. And finally, in the 40th minute, Marino Pusic’s lads opened the scoring: Azarov made a pass from the left wing to the far corner of the goalmouth, and Danylo Sikan opened up between two Poltava team defenders and headed the ball over Isenko – 0-1.
Konoplia’s winning goal and tension until the final whistle
After the break, Vorskla actively went forward, and already in the beginning, Miakushko made a dangerous shot from the penalty area line – Riznyk saved it. The reaction of the Miners was instantaneous, and if Sikan’s shot from 20 metres was saved by Isenko, then in the 56th minute the goalkeeper also could not help his team: Zubkov made a cross from the left corner, Matviienko kicked the ball to the far post, and Yukhym Konoplia headed past Isenko – the ball crossed the goal line, and the referee counted the goal after the VAR prompt. 0-2. The teams spent some time in duels in the centre of the field, and the sharp moments returned already after the middle of the half. Kevin received a pass to the left edge, entered the penalty area and shot into the near corner – Isenko managed it. In response, Kovtaliuk completed his teammate’s cross from the centre of the penalty area, but Riznyk also played reliably. Zubkov got a good chance, but he missed the target with his header while finishing Azarov’s pass. Towards the end of the match, Vorskla rushed to conduct the final attack and scored one goal in the 85th minute: Krupskyi passed to Kovtaliuk, who made one-touch shot into the net. However, the Orange-and-Blacks did not allow the opponent create something more. 2-1 – Shakhtar defeated Vorskla and became the winners of the Ukrainian Cup!
Donetsk team achieved a golden double of the 2023/24 season! Therefore, Shakhtar became the most decorated club since Ukraine’s independence with 39 trophies!
Marino Pusic’s team are to play two more league matches before the end of the season. On Sunday, May 19, the Miners will play the away match against Dnipro-1. The game will kick off at 15:30.
Vorskla Poltava 1-2 (0-1) Shakhtar Donetsk
Rivne, Avanhard, 3,500 spectators
Goals: 0-1 Sikan (40′), 0-2 Konoplia (56′), 1-2 Kovtaliuk (85′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Konoplia, Bondar, Matviienko, Azarov, Stepanenko (c) (Marlon Gomes, 73′), Bondarenko, Kryskiv, Zubkov (Shved, 81′), Kevin, Sikan (Traore, 81′)
A half under control and Sikan’s goal right before the break
The teams started the meeting cautiously and did not rush to attack forcefully in the starting stretch, focusing on finding the weak points of the opponent. As expected, the Orange-and-Blacks were in possession of the ball more and combined in the opponent’s half of the field for a long time, while Poltava team were waiting for a chance during the counterattack. One of these episodes almost led to Kane’s one-on-one, but Riznyk ran out of the penalty area in time and outplayed the Malian. In response, Shakhtar created the first dangerous moment: Kevin dealt with two opponents on his wing and made a cross to the far post, which Konoplia tried to turn right home with a header – the ball flew in the direction of the goalkeeper, but also past the goal. A few minutes later, Kane was in a shooting position, but he hit Riznyk from a tight angle. Towards the end of the half, Shakhtar again took the ball under their control, and Zubkov had chances to score: first he hit the wall from penalty area, and then Isenko managed his long-range attempt. And finally, in the 40th minute, Marino Pusic’s lads opened the scoring: Azarov made a pass from the left wing to the far corner of the goalmouth, and Danylo Sikan opened up between two Poltava team defenders and headed the ball over Isenko – 0-1.
Konoplia’s winning goal and tension until the final whistle
After the break, Vorskla actively went forward, and already in the beginning, Miakushko made a dangerous shot from the penalty area line – Riznyk saved it. The reaction of the Miners was instantaneous, and if Sikan’s shot from 20 metres was saved by Isenko, then in the 56th minute the goalkeeper also could not help his team: Zubkov made a cross from the left corner, Matviienko kicked the ball to the far post, and Yukhym Konoplia headed past Isenko – the ball crossed the goal line, and the referee counted the goal after the VAR prompt. 0-2. The teams spent some time in duels in the centre of the field, and the sharp moments returned already after the middle of the half. Kevin received a pass to the left edge, entered the penalty area and shot into the near corner – Isenko managed it. In response, Kovtaliuk completed his teammate’s cross from the centre of the penalty area, but Riznyk also played reliably. Zubkov got a good chance, but he missed the target with his header while finishing Azarov’s pass. Towards the end of the match, Vorskla rushed to conduct the final attack and scored one goal in the 85th minute: Krupskyi passed to Kovtaliuk, who made one-touch shot into the net. However, the Orange-and-Blacks did not allow the opponent create something more. 2-1 – Shakhtar defeated Vorskla and became the winners of the Ukrainian Cup!
Donetsk team achieved a golden double of the 2023/24 season! Therefore, Shakhtar became the most decorated club since Ukraine’s independence with 39 trophies!
Marino Pusic’s team are to play two more league matches before the end of the season. On Sunday, May 19, the Miners will play the away match against Dnipro-1. The game will kick off at 15:30.
Vorskla Poltava 1-2 (0-1) Shakhtar Donetsk
Rivne, Avanhard, 3,500 spectators
Goals: 0-1 Sikan (40′), 0-2 Konoplia (56′), 1-2 Kovtaliuk (85′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Konoplia, Bondar, Matviienko, Azarov, Stepanenko (c) (Marlon Gomes, 73′), Bondarenko, Kryskiv, Zubkov (Shved, 81′), Kevin, Sikan (Traore, 81′)
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