European autumn is ahead!
Friday, August 29, 2025
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Shakhtar played away against Servette in the second leg of the UEFA Conference League play-off round
Head coach of the Orange-and-Blacks Arda Turan fielded the following starting line-up for this game: Riznyk played in goal, Vinicius Tobias and Pedro Henrique lined up as full-backs, Matviienko and Bondar featured in central defence, Marlon Gomes, Bondarenko and Ocheretko operated in midfield, with Kevin, Alisson and Sudakov forming the attacking trio.
Goalless first half under heavy rain
The hosts started the first half more actively, quickly adapting to the rain-soaked pitch and creating a dangerous chance in the opening minutes – after a set-piece and cross into the box, Stevanovic narrowly failed to connect at the far post. However, the Miners soon took control of the ball and space, looking for opportunities to create their own chances. Kevin broke down the left flank and crossed to the far post, but Alisson could not head the ball properly. Pedro Henrique tried a shot from a tight angle – just wide of the post. Closer to half-time, the teams exchanged chances again: Kevin’s strike from outside the box to the bottom corner was saved by Mall, while Njoh’s attempt from the left edge of the penalty area hit the far post.
Conceding first, but showing character again
Right at the start of the second half, the goalframe saved the Swiss side: Ocheretko passed to Sudakov, who moved closer to the centre and struck from outside the box, hitting the left post. The hosts, however, made the most of their chance on the counter: in the 53rd minute, Njoh broke free down the left flank, went one-on-one and scored into the far corner. Arda Turan reacted immediately with a double substitution, bringing on Pedrinho and Kaua Elias. The Pitmen pushed forward with everything they had and, a few minutes later, faced another dangerous counterattack, but this time the defenders and Riznyk prevented Antunes from making a precise shot. In response, Ocheretko took a long-ranger, and Kevin followed up with a second attempt, but the Geneva goalkeeper saved the Brazilian’s effort. Next, Kaua Elias received the ball on the right edge of the box and struck low – Mall parried again. In the middle of the half, Shakhtar made two more substitutions – Konoplia and Lucas Ferreira appeared on the pitch. And in the 70th minute, the Miners finally equalised: Kaua Elias was fouled in the penalty area and earned a penalty, which Kevin confidently converted into the far-right corner, making it 1-1 The goal added emotions to the Pitmen, who continued attacking. Pedro Henrique volleyed brilliantly – just wide of the far post. After a cross from Konoplia, the ball fell to Kevin on the left edge of the box – the Brazilian shot over the crossbar. The team’s newcomer, Lucas Ferreira, also failed to hit the target from a good position. In stoppage time, the Swiss side burst forward with activity, but the visitors were saved first by Kevin and then by Riznyk. Thus, regular time ended in a draw – 1-1.
Winning goal by Kaua Elias in extra time
Extra time began with a chance for Sudakov, whose cross nearly found the far corner. From the other end, Fomba fired from distance – Riznyk was reliable. Already in the first half of extra time, Shakhtar’s coaching staff had to make two substitutions: Pedro Henrique and Ocheretko left the pitch due to muscle problems and were replaced by Azarov and Marlon Santos, for whom this was his first match since returning to the club. Kevin had a good opportunity to put Shakhtar ahead, but his shot from the semicircle hit the right post of the Geneva goal.
At the start of the second half of extra time, the Pitmen created several more chances: Kaua Elias curled one in from the left edge of the box – the goalkeeper pulled off a save; Kevin shot from the centre of the box over the target; and after a powerful strike from Sudakov from distance, the ball narrowly missed the left top corner. And yet, the Orange-and-Blacks managed to score from open play in the 113th minute. Bondar’s pressing forced the opponent into losing the ball in midfield, Pedrinho played it into the box to Kaua Elias, who paused and then struck low to beat the keeper – 1–2. Lucas Ferreira could have sealed the win, beating opponents in the penalty area and firing, but his attempt was parried by Mall.
2-1 – Shakhtar defeated Servette and advanced to the UEFA Conference League league phase.
Arda Turan’s side will learn their opponents during the draw to be held on August 29 at 14:00 Kyiv time.
And already on the upcoming Sunday, August 31, on Miners’ Day, the Pitmen will play their next UPL match. The Orange-and-Blacks will host Oleksandriia in round 4. The clash at the Arena Lviv kicks off at 18:00.
Servette Geneva 1-2 (0-0, 1-1, 0-1) Shakhtar Donetsk
Geneva, Stade de Genève, att.: 13,224
Goals: 1-0 Njoh (53′), 1-1 Kevin (70′, pen.), 1-2 Kaua Elias (113′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Vinicius Tobias (Konoplia, 68′), Bondar, Matviienko (c), Pedro Henrique (Azarov, 100′), Marlon Gomes (Lucas Ferreira, 68′), Bondarenko (Pedrinho, 55′), Ocheretko (Marlon Santos, 99′), Alisson (Kaua Elias, 55′), Kevin, Sudakov
Goalless first half under heavy rain
The hosts started the first half more actively, quickly adapting to the rain-soaked pitch and creating a dangerous chance in the opening minutes – after a set-piece and cross into the box, Stevanovic narrowly failed to connect at the far post. However, the Miners soon took control of the ball and space, looking for opportunities to create their own chances. Kevin broke down the left flank and crossed to the far post, but Alisson could not head the ball properly. Pedro Henrique tried a shot from a tight angle – just wide of the post. Closer to half-time, the teams exchanged chances again: Kevin’s strike from outside the box to the bottom corner was saved by Mall, while Njoh’s attempt from the left edge of the penalty area hit the far post.
Conceding first, but showing character again
Right at the start of the second half, the goalframe saved the Swiss side: Ocheretko passed to Sudakov, who moved closer to the centre and struck from outside the box, hitting the left post. The hosts, however, made the most of their chance on the counter: in the 53rd minute, Njoh broke free down the left flank, went one-on-one and scored into the far corner. Arda Turan reacted immediately with a double substitution, bringing on Pedrinho and Kaua Elias. The Pitmen pushed forward with everything they had and, a few minutes later, faced another dangerous counterattack, but this time the defenders and Riznyk prevented Antunes from making a precise shot. In response, Ocheretko took a long-ranger, and Kevin followed up with a second attempt, but the Geneva goalkeeper saved the Brazilian’s effort. Next, Kaua Elias received the ball on the right edge of the box and struck low – Mall parried again. In the middle of the half, Shakhtar made two more substitutions – Konoplia and Lucas Ferreira appeared on the pitch. And in the 70th minute, the Miners finally equalised: Kaua Elias was fouled in the penalty area and earned a penalty, which Kevin confidently converted into the far-right corner, making it 1-1 The goal added emotions to the Pitmen, who continued attacking. Pedro Henrique volleyed brilliantly – just wide of the far post. After a cross from Konoplia, the ball fell to Kevin on the left edge of the box – the Brazilian shot over the crossbar. The team’s newcomer, Lucas Ferreira, also failed to hit the target from a good position. In stoppage time, the Swiss side burst forward with activity, but the visitors were saved first by Kevin and then by Riznyk. Thus, regular time ended in a draw – 1-1.
Winning goal by Kaua Elias in extra time
Extra time began with a chance for Sudakov, whose cross nearly found the far corner. From the other end, Fomba fired from distance – Riznyk was reliable. Already in the first half of extra time, Shakhtar’s coaching staff had to make two substitutions: Pedro Henrique and Ocheretko left the pitch due to muscle problems and were replaced by Azarov and Marlon Santos, for whom this was his first match since returning to the club. Kevin had a good opportunity to put Shakhtar ahead, but his shot from the semicircle hit the right post of the Geneva goal.
At the start of the second half of extra time, the Pitmen created several more chances: Kaua Elias curled one in from the left edge of the box – the goalkeeper pulled off a save; Kevin shot from the centre of the box over the target; and after a powerful strike from Sudakov from distance, the ball narrowly missed the left top corner. And yet, the Orange-and-Blacks managed to score from open play in the 113th minute. Bondar’s pressing forced the opponent into losing the ball in midfield, Pedrinho played it into the box to Kaua Elias, who paused and then struck low to beat the keeper – 1–2. Lucas Ferreira could have sealed the win, beating opponents in the penalty area and firing, but his attempt was parried by Mall.
2-1 – Shakhtar defeated Servette and advanced to the UEFA Conference League league phase.
Arda Turan’s side will learn their opponents during the draw to be held on August 29 at 14:00 Kyiv time.
And already on the upcoming Sunday, August 31, on Miners’ Day, the Pitmen will play their next UPL match. The Orange-and-Blacks will host Oleksandriia in round 4. The clash at the Arena Lviv kicks off at 18:00.
Servette Geneva 1-2 (0-0, 1-1, 0-1) Shakhtar Donetsk
Geneva, Stade de Genève, att.: 13,224
Goals: 1-0 Njoh (53′), 1-1 Kevin (70′, pen.), 1-2 Kaua Elias (113′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Vinicius Tobias (Konoplia, 68′), Bondar, Matviienko (c), Pedro Henrique (Azarov, 100′), Marlon Gomes (Lucas Ferreira, 68′), Bondarenko (Pedrinho, 55′), Ocheretko (Marlon Santos, 99′), Alisson (Kaua Elias, 55′), Kevin, Sudakov
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