Debut in the Conference League!
Thursday, August 21, 2025
|
Shakhtar hosted Servette in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League play-off round in Kraków
The coaching staff of the Miners selected the following line-up for the match: Riznyk was in goal, Matviienko and Bondar acted at centre-back, Vinicius Tobias and Pedro Henrique appeared as full-backs, Marlon Gomes, Pedrinho, and Sudakov formed the midfield, Newertton and Alisson were deployed as wingers, with Kaua Elias performing as a centre forward.
Conceded early, but had chances to bounce back before the break
The Miners started the clash by controlling possession and orchestrated several attacks in the opening minutes, though none were finished. It was the visitors who scored first: in the 8th minute, following a delivery from a right-sided corner, Fomba got in front and headed the ball into the net. The Pitmen quickly recovered from such a start and began pressing towards the Swiss goal. A powerful shot from Alisson outside the box was tipped away in the left corner by the Servette goalkeeper, while Newertton’s attempt from the left wing flew over the crossbar. The Geneva side responded with a long-ranger from Varela – Riznyk sent it over the bar. A great chance came for the Shakhtar Brazilians when Kaua Elias set Alisson through one-on-one, but the he hit the post. Soon after, Pedro Henrique raced down the flank and delivered a sharp cross into the penalty area, where Pedrinho and Kaua Elias were narrowly beaten to it by defenders. The game calmed down somewhat in the middle of the half. Although the Orange-and-Blacks continued to dominate possession and play fluidly in the opposing half, they rarely managed to deliver the ball into the visitors’ penalty area with real danger. However, in the final minute of the half, the Ukrainians had a chance: Sudakov delivered a free-kick from the right, with Matviienko heading just centimetres wide of the left post.
Attacking for the entire half and Bondar’s equaliser
At half-time, Shakhtar made a forced substitution: Newertton picked up an injury and was replaced by Kevin. From the start of the second half, the Miners pinned their opponents near their penalty area and began persistently searching for chances. Sudakov struck on the volley after a corner routine – just wide of the goal. Vinicius Tobias delivered dangerous crosses, but none of his teammates could connect. Alisson quickly entered the penalty area and fired strongly towards the near corner, but the goalkeeper kept it out. In the 65th minute, the coaching staff of the Pitmen had to make another unplanned substitution due to an injury of Kaua Elias, bringing on Artem Bondarenko. Finally, in the 72nd minute, the Orange-and-Blacks managed to equalise: Kevin delivered a corner from the left to the far post, Marlon Gomes headed it back into the goal area and Valerii Bondar scored from virtually a metre out – 1-1. The goal clearly lifted the hosts, who immediately pressed to build on their momentum. Vinicius Tobias’ shot from the right side of the box was blocked by the Geneva side defenders, preventing Bondarenko and Pedrinho from following up. Pedro Henrique tried a long-range effort – over the bar. In the 77th minute, Shakhtar’s new signing Lucas Ferreira made his European debut and could have scored in his very first attack, but just missed connecting with Kevin’s cross. Later, Bondarenko played the ball into the centre of the box, where Kevin attempted a shot at the bottom left corner but failed to find the target. The Pitmen continued pushing forward with full force until the final seconds. Sudakov had a chance to snatch victory, but his powerful long-ranger was parried by Mall with some difficulty. 1-1 – Shakhtar and Servette begin the tie evenly.
On August 28, the teams will play the return leg in Switzerland. The Servette vs Shakhtar match will take place at the Stade de Genève, with kickoff scheduled for 22:00 Kyiv time (21:00 CET). Tickets to away sections are available.
Shakhtar Donetsk 1:1 (0-1) Servette Geneva
Kraków, Stadion Miejski im. Henryka Reymana, att.: 8,392
Goals: 0-1 Fomba (8′), 1-1 Bondar (72′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Vinicius Tobias, Bondar, Matviienko (c), Pedro Henrique, Marlon Gomes, Pedrinho (Lucas Ferreira, 77′), Sudakov, Alisson, Newertton (Kevin, 46′), Kaua Elias (Bondarenko, 65′)
Conceded early, but had chances to bounce back before the break
The Miners started the clash by controlling possession and orchestrated several attacks in the opening minutes, though none were finished. It was the visitors who scored first: in the 8th minute, following a delivery from a right-sided corner, Fomba got in front and headed the ball into the net. The Pitmen quickly recovered from such a start and began pressing towards the Swiss goal. A powerful shot from Alisson outside the box was tipped away in the left corner by the Servette goalkeeper, while Newertton’s attempt from the left wing flew over the crossbar. The Geneva side responded with a long-ranger from Varela – Riznyk sent it over the bar. A great chance came for the Shakhtar Brazilians when Kaua Elias set Alisson through one-on-one, but the he hit the post. Soon after, Pedro Henrique raced down the flank and delivered a sharp cross into the penalty area, where Pedrinho and Kaua Elias were narrowly beaten to it by defenders. The game calmed down somewhat in the middle of the half. Although the Orange-and-Blacks continued to dominate possession and play fluidly in the opposing half, they rarely managed to deliver the ball into the visitors’ penalty area with real danger. However, in the final minute of the half, the Ukrainians had a chance: Sudakov delivered a free-kick from the right, with Matviienko heading just centimetres wide of the left post.
Attacking for the entire half and Bondar’s equaliser
At half-time, Shakhtar made a forced substitution: Newertton picked up an injury and was replaced by Kevin. From the start of the second half, the Miners pinned their opponents near their penalty area and began persistently searching for chances. Sudakov struck on the volley after a corner routine – just wide of the goal. Vinicius Tobias delivered dangerous crosses, but none of his teammates could connect. Alisson quickly entered the penalty area and fired strongly towards the near corner, but the goalkeeper kept it out. In the 65th minute, the coaching staff of the Pitmen had to make another unplanned substitution due to an injury of Kaua Elias, bringing on Artem Bondarenko. Finally, in the 72nd minute, the Orange-and-Blacks managed to equalise: Kevin delivered a corner from the left to the far post, Marlon Gomes headed it back into the goal area and Valerii Bondar scored from virtually a metre out – 1-1. The goal clearly lifted the hosts, who immediately pressed to build on their momentum. Vinicius Tobias’ shot from the right side of the box was blocked by the Geneva side defenders, preventing Bondarenko and Pedrinho from following up. Pedro Henrique tried a long-range effort – over the bar. In the 77th minute, Shakhtar’s new signing Lucas Ferreira made his European debut and could have scored in his very first attack, but just missed connecting with Kevin’s cross. Later, Bondarenko played the ball into the centre of the box, where Kevin attempted a shot at the bottom left corner but failed to find the target. The Pitmen continued pushing forward with full force until the final seconds. Sudakov had a chance to snatch victory, but his powerful long-ranger was parried by Mall with some difficulty. 1-1 – Shakhtar and Servette begin the tie evenly.
On August 28, the teams will play the return leg in Switzerland. The Servette vs Shakhtar match will take place at the Stade de Genève, with kickoff scheduled for 22:00 Kyiv time (21:00 CET). Tickets to away sections are available.
Shakhtar Donetsk 1:1 (0-1) Servette Geneva
Kraków, Stadion Miejski im. Henryka Reymana, att.: 8,392
Goals: 0-1 Fomba (8′), 1-1 Bondar (72′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Vinicius Tobias, Bondar, Matviienko (c), Pedro Henrique, Marlon Gomes, Pedrinho (Lucas Ferreira, 77′), Sudakov, Alisson, Newertton (Kevin, 46′), Kaua Elias (Bondarenko, 65′)
Start Slideshow
