Match report
Saturday, April 19, 2025
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Shakhtar hosted Kolos on the UPL MD25 in Lviv
Head coach of the Miners Marino Pusic chose the following starting line-up for this match: Fesiun played in the goal, Matviienko and Bondar appeared in the centre of defence, Vinicius Tobias and Pedro Henrique were on the defensive wings, Marlon Gomes, Bondarenko and Sudakov acted in the midfield, Kevin and Pedrinho played as wingers, and Eguinaldo was the centre-forward.
The first symbolic kick in the match is dedicated to the Hero of Ukraine, pilot Oleksii Mes (call sign Moonfish). He became the first pilot in Ukraine who used the F-16 fighter aircraft in combat conditions, led the first training group of Ukrainian pilots in Denmark. On August 26, 2024, Oleksii destroyed three cruise missiles and one UCAV while protecting Ukrainian skies from a massive Russian missile and drone strike but died when making his run over the next target. He was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine for exceptional heroism and courage. Today, in memory of Oleksii Mes, the first kick was performed by his wife Yuliia and daughter Uliana.
Two conceded goals and Marlon Gomes’ response
At the beginning of the match, the Orange-and-Blacks had the initiative: in the first minutes, after a sharp cross by Pedro Henrique, the defender of the visiting team almost deflected the ball into his own net, then Marlon Gomes shot from the centre of the penalty area after Sudakov’s cross, but hit the opponent, and Kevin’s dangerous diagonal shot went centimetres away from the right post. Artem Bondarenko had a good chance, dealing with an opponent in the penalty area, but he did not manage to beat the goalkeeper. However, the Kovalivka team withstood the initial pressure of the hosts and, closer to the middle of the half, levelled the game, creating several chances, and in the 26th minute they opened the scoring – Rrapaj hit the left corner of the goal of the Pitmen with a long-range shot. The Miners rushed to fight back, but they conceded a second goal in the 38th minute: Tsurikov managed to finish a pass from the left flank at the near post. However, before the break, Marino Pusic’s team pulled one back: in the 44th minute, Kevin crossed from the left edge to the far corner, Eguinaldo headed the ball, Bondarenko adjusted it, and Marlon Gomes turned the ball into the net with a bicycle kick while falling – 1-2.
Failed comeback attempt
The start of the second half of the match passed under the control of Shakhtar players, who systematically increased the pressure: long-range shots by Matviienko and Kevin went wide, Marlon Gomes’ overhead kick attempt was unsuccessful. Finally, in the 59th minute, the Pitmen scored, but after a long VAR review, the referees disallowed Bondarenko’s goal. The host team continued to move forward, and Eguinaldo (heading over the target) and Kevin, who went one-on-one but hit the goalkeeper, had chances to equalise the score. But the opponent took advantage of almost their only chance – in the 84th minute, Veleten turned his teammate’s wing cross home. The coaching staff of the Orange-and-Blacks reacted to this with four simultaneous substitutions, fielding Kryskiv, Alisson, Traore and Kaua Elias. The referee added 13 minutes to the regular time of the match, and with fresh strength, the Pitmen launched the last attack and reduced the gap. The goalkeeper of the Kovalivka team parried Alisson’s shot, but then knocked down Traore, who was going to pursue rebounds – Kevin converted the penalty. 2-3. However, the visiting team had the last word – Bolivar scored in a counterattack. 2-4 - Shakhtar lost to Kolos.
On Wednesday, April 23, the Miners will have the Ukrainian Cup semi-final match against Polissia. The game will be held in Zhytomyr and will kick off at 18:00. And in the next round of the UPL, the Ukrainian Clasico between Shakhtar and Dynamo will take place at the Arena Lviv (kicking off 18:00).
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-4 (1-2) Kolos Kovalivka
Lviv, Arena Lviv, att: 1,117
Goals: 0-1 Rrapaj (26'), 0-2 Tsurikov (38'), 1-2 Marlon Gomes (44'), 1-3 Veleten (84'), 2-3 Kevin (90+5', pen.), 2-4 Bolivar (90+7')
Shakhtar: Fesiun, Vinicius Tobias (Kaua Elias, 87'), Bondar, Matviienko (c), Pedro Henrique, Marlon Gomes, Bondarenko, Sudakov (Kryskiv, 87'), Pedrinho (Alisson, 87'), Kevin, Eguinaldo (Traore, 87')
The first symbolic kick in the match is dedicated to the Hero of Ukraine, pilot Oleksii Mes (call sign Moonfish). He became the first pilot in Ukraine who used the F-16 fighter aircraft in combat conditions, led the first training group of Ukrainian pilots in Denmark. On August 26, 2024, Oleksii destroyed three cruise missiles and one UCAV while protecting Ukrainian skies from a massive Russian missile and drone strike but died when making his run over the next target. He was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine for exceptional heroism and courage. Today, in memory of Oleksii Mes, the first kick was performed by his wife Yuliia and daughter Uliana.
Two conceded goals and Marlon Gomes’ response
At the beginning of the match, the Orange-and-Blacks had the initiative: in the first minutes, after a sharp cross by Pedro Henrique, the defender of the visiting team almost deflected the ball into his own net, then Marlon Gomes shot from the centre of the penalty area after Sudakov’s cross, but hit the opponent, and Kevin’s dangerous diagonal shot went centimetres away from the right post. Artem Bondarenko had a good chance, dealing with an opponent in the penalty area, but he did not manage to beat the goalkeeper. However, the Kovalivka team withstood the initial pressure of the hosts and, closer to the middle of the half, levelled the game, creating several chances, and in the 26th minute they opened the scoring – Rrapaj hit the left corner of the goal of the Pitmen with a long-range shot. The Miners rushed to fight back, but they conceded a second goal in the 38th minute: Tsurikov managed to finish a pass from the left flank at the near post. However, before the break, Marino Pusic’s team pulled one back: in the 44th minute, Kevin crossed from the left edge to the far corner, Eguinaldo headed the ball, Bondarenko adjusted it, and Marlon Gomes turned the ball into the net with a bicycle kick while falling – 1-2.
Failed comeback attempt
The start of the second half of the match passed under the control of Shakhtar players, who systematically increased the pressure: long-range shots by Matviienko and Kevin went wide, Marlon Gomes’ overhead kick attempt was unsuccessful. Finally, in the 59th minute, the Pitmen scored, but after a long VAR review, the referees disallowed Bondarenko’s goal. The host team continued to move forward, and Eguinaldo (heading over the target) and Kevin, who went one-on-one but hit the goalkeeper, had chances to equalise the score. But the opponent took advantage of almost their only chance – in the 84th minute, Veleten turned his teammate’s wing cross home. The coaching staff of the Orange-and-Blacks reacted to this with four simultaneous substitutions, fielding Kryskiv, Alisson, Traore and Kaua Elias. The referee added 13 minutes to the regular time of the match, and with fresh strength, the Pitmen launched the last attack and reduced the gap. The goalkeeper of the Kovalivka team parried Alisson’s shot, but then knocked down Traore, who was going to pursue rebounds – Kevin converted the penalty. 2-3. However, the visiting team had the last word – Bolivar scored in a counterattack. 2-4 - Shakhtar lost to Kolos.
On Wednesday, April 23, the Miners will have the Ukrainian Cup semi-final match against Polissia. The game will be held in Zhytomyr and will kick off at 18:00. And in the next round of the UPL, the Ukrainian Clasico between Shakhtar and Dynamo will take place at the Arena Lviv (kicking off 18:00).
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-4 (1-2) Kolos Kovalivka
Lviv, Arena Lviv, att: 1,117
Goals: 0-1 Rrapaj (26'), 0-2 Tsurikov (38'), 1-2 Marlon Gomes (44'), 1-3 Veleten (84'), 2-3 Kevin (90+5', pen.), 2-4 Bolivar (90+7')
Shakhtar: Fesiun, Vinicius Tobias (Kaua Elias, 87'), Bondar, Matviienko (c), Pedro Henrique, Marlon Gomes, Bondarenko, Sudakov (Kryskiv, 87'), Pedrinho (Alisson, 87'), Kevin, Eguinaldo (Traore, 87')
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