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Cup victory

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

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FCSD

Shakhtar faced Zorya Luhansk in the Ukrainian Cup Round of 16

Head coach of the Orange-and-Blacks Marino Pusic applied extensive squad rotation, considering the team’s tight game schedule: Vinicius Tobias and Azarov appeared on the defensive wings, and Franjic was in the centre of defence with Bondar, Stepanenko, Marlon Gomes and Bondarenko played in the middle of the field, with Kevin and Pedrinho acting as wingers and Traore playing in the central forward position.

Game advantage with Traore’s goal

The Miners took the initiative from the beginning of the meeting and created the first goal-scoring opportunity already in the 2nd minute – Vinicius Tobias hit the post after Kevin’s pass. Shortly after, Pedrinho lacked a little to turn Azarov’s sharp cross from the left wing home. The Pitmen managed to open the scoring in the 21st minute: Azarov launched an attack, Marlon Gomes found Pedrinho on the right edge of the penalty area with an excellent splitting pass from the central circle, the latter rolled the ball along the goalmouth line, and Lassina Traore hit the net with a one-touch shot – 1-0. Kevin fell in the penalty area in a fight with an opponent during one of the next attacks, but referee Denys Shurman decided that there was no penalty. Vinicius could have exploited a success when he played in a second wave attack after the corner kick, but he shot right into the hands of Zorya goalkeeper. The Luhansk team had a couple of opportunities at the end of the half: first, Tobias saved the shot by Reis, and then Slesar’s attempt was blocked.

A half under control and a step to the next round

After the break, the Orange-and-Blacks scored for the second time very quickly: Kevin received the ball from Marlon Gomes on the edge of the penalty area and shot past the goalkeeper, but the officials did not count the goal due to extremely doubtful offside. In these minutes, Marino Pusic’s team calmly possessed the ball and tried to destabilse the opponent with attacks through wings. The coaching staff of Shakhtar fielded Sudakov and Sikan to revive the team. Unfortunately, another substitution was a forced one: Pedrinho left the field due to injury, Zubkov replaced him. The Miners could have doubled the advantage almost immediately, when Riznyk led Sikan on the left wing with a cool long ball from his free kick, the forward beat goalkeeper Turbaievskyi, who left the goal unsuccessfully, and tried to pass to his teammate but hit Reis. The visiting team also had a chance to score, but Budkivskyi’s shot in a spectacular jump was saved by Riznyk. And in the 80th minute, the Luhansk team remained in the minority: Eskinja jumped into Bondarenko with two feet and immediately received a straight red card. The teams made several more substitutions in the remaining time (the Pitmen released Newertton and Nazaryna), but the score remained unchanged.

1-0 – Shakhtar defeated Zorya and advanced to the Ukrainian Cup quarter-finals.

The Miners will play another UPL match on Saturday, November 2, against Chornomorets. The game will be held at the Arena Lviv and will kick off at 18:00.

Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 (1-0) Zorya Luhansk

Lviv, Arena Lviv, 1,097 spectators

Goal: 1-0 Traore (21′)

Shakhtar: Riznyk, Vinicius Tobias, Bondar, Franjic, Azarov, Stepanenko (c) (Sudakov, 66′), Bondarenko (Nazaryna, 90′), Marlon Gomes, Pedrinho (Zubkov, 71′), Kevin (Newertton, 89′), Traore (Sikan, 66′)

Sent off: Eskinja (80′, straight red card)