Bright start to the season!
Monday, August 3, 2026
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Shakhtar hosted Kudrivka in the 2026/27 UPL round 1
The Miners’ head coach selected the following line-up for the first match of the new season: Riznyk started in goal, Matviienko and Bondar were in central defence, Vinicius Tobias and Pedro Henrique played at full-back, Nazaryna, Bondarenko and Pedrinho operated in midfield, Alisson and debutant Mendoza appeared on the wings, with Kaua Elias as the centre forward.
The ceremonial kick-off Kudrivka was performed by Staff Sergeant Vitalii Nikolaichuk of the 14th Operational Brigade of the 1st Corps Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine. Vitalii has dedicated more than 20 years to military service. He took part in the ATO and JFO, and after the start of the full-scale invasion, participated in the liberation of Kyiv region and battles in the Sievierodonetsk area. In 2023, while carrying out a combat mission in the Zaporizhzhia sector, Vitalii was taken captive by Russia. After two years in captivity, he was released, underwent rehabilitation and returned to service to continue defending Ukraine. Alongside his military service, Vitalii has devoted many years to football: he was a team captain and became a Ukrainian champion in the ATO Participants League seven times.
Shakhtar players took to the pitch wearing special shirts with the Free Azovstal Defenders message to once again remind everyone of the heroes who are still being held captive by Russia. The Miners also played in their third kit for the first time, which had been unveiled the day before.
Alisson scored the first goal of the season, but the opponents responded before the break
From the very start of the match, Shakhtar began putting pressure on the visitors’ goal and created several chances early on. Following Alisson’s cross from the flank, Kaua Elias struck from the centre of the box, but his effort went just wide of the post. Attempts from Pedrinho and Pedro Henrique were blocked by the Chernihiv side’s defenders, while Alisson’s shot from the edge of the penalty area towards the top corner was saved by the goalkeeper. Bondarenko also tested his luck, but his long-range effort went over the bar. Eventually, in the 32nd minute, the Orange-and-Blacks opened the scoring in the new league campaign: Pedro Henrique played a vertical pass from midfield to find Pedrinho inside the visitors’ box, he controlled the ball with his first touch and then produced a fine pass with his second to the right corner of the goal area, where Alisson, jumping, headed the ball over Yashkov – 1-0. After scoring, the Pitmen continued to control the game and created several more dangerous attacks towards their opponents’ goal. However, towards the end of the half, Kudrivka took advantage of a set piece: in the 42nd minute, following a corner delivery, Dumaniuk headed the ball into the bottom left corner to level the score.
Elias’ hat-trick, Meirelles’ first-touch goal and Karavaiev’s debut
The second half once again began with attacks from the Miners, and this time Arda Turan’s side managed to score an early goal. In the 55th minute, Alisson delivered a superb cross from the right flank to the far post, where Kaua Elias got ahead of the defenders and powered the ball into the net with a header – 2-1. The first substitutions were made midway through the half, with Tsukanov, Ocheretko and Newertton coming on for the Pitmen. The fresh players helped maintain a high tempo, and soon Shakhtar managed to score twice more. In the 72nd minute, Matviienko found Newertton on the left side of the box with a long pass. His shot was saved by Yashkov, but Kaua Elias was first to the rebound to make it 3-1. In the 80th minute, Luca Meirelles came on and scored with his very first touch: following a corner from the left, the Brazilian forward turned the ball into the far corner almost with his stomach – 4-1. In the 85th minute, another significant moment took place as Shakhtar Academy graduate Oleksandr Karavaiev made his debut for the club after returning in the summer. The final goal of the match came in the second minute of stoppage time: Ocheretko’s pass over the top sent Kaua Elias through one-on-one with the goalkeeper, and the Brazilian finished past Yashkov to complete his hat-trick!
5-1 – Shakhtar secured a convincing victory over Kudrivka in their first match of the 2026/27 UPL season.
Arda Turan’s team will play their next game away against Epicentr on Sunday, August 9. The clash at the H. Tonkocheiev Stadium in Kamianets-Podilskyi kicks off at 15:30.
Shakhtar Donetsk 5-0 (1-1) Kudrivka Chernihiv
Lviv, Arena Lviv, att.: 4,166
Goals: 1-0 Alisson (32′), 1-1 Dumaniuk (42′), 2-1 Kaua Elias (55′), 3-1 Kaua Elias (72′), 4-1 Meirelles (80′), 5-1 Kaua Elias (90+2′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Vinicius Tobias (Karavaiev, 85′), Bondar, Matviienko (c), Pedro Henrique, Nazaryna (Ocheretko, 68′), Bondarenko (Tsukanov, 68′), Pedrinho (Meirelles, 80′), Alisson, Mendoza (Newertton, 68′), Kaua Elias
The ceremonial kick-off Kudrivka was performed by Staff Sergeant Vitalii Nikolaichuk of the 14th Operational Brigade of the 1st Corps Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine. Vitalii has dedicated more than 20 years to military service. He took part in the ATO and JFO, and after the start of the full-scale invasion, participated in the liberation of Kyiv region and battles in the Sievierodonetsk area. In 2023, while carrying out a combat mission in the Zaporizhzhia sector, Vitalii was taken captive by Russia. After two years in captivity, he was released, underwent rehabilitation and returned to service to continue defending Ukraine. Alongside his military service, Vitalii has devoted many years to football: he was a team captain and became a Ukrainian champion in the ATO Participants League seven times.
Shakhtar players took to the pitch wearing special shirts with the Free Azovstal Defenders message to once again remind everyone of the heroes who are still being held captive by Russia. The Miners also played in their third kit for the first time, which had been unveiled the day before.
Alisson scored the first goal of the season, but the opponents responded before the break
From the very start of the match, Shakhtar began putting pressure on the visitors’ goal and created several chances early on. Following Alisson’s cross from the flank, Kaua Elias struck from the centre of the box, but his effort went just wide of the post. Attempts from Pedrinho and Pedro Henrique were blocked by the Chernihiv side’s defenders, while Alisson’s shot from the edge of the penalty area towards the top corner was saved by the goalkeeper. Bondarenko also tested his luck, but his long-range effort went over the bar. Eventually, in the 32nd minute, the Orange-and-Blacks opened the scoring in the new league campaign: Pedro Henrique played a vertical pass from midfield to find Pedrinho inside the visitors’ box, he controlled the ball with his first touch and then produced a fine pass with his second to the right corner of the goal area, where Alisson, jumping, headed the ball over Yashkov – 1-0. After scoring, the Pitmen continued to control the game and created several more dangerous attacks towards their opponents’ goal. However, towards the end of the half, Kudrivka took advantage of a set piece: in the 42nd minute, following a corner delivery, Dumaniuk headed the ball into the bottom left corner to level the score.
Elias’ hat-trick, Meirelles’ first-touch goal and Karavaiev’s debut
The second half once again began with attacks from the Miners, and this time Arda Turan’s side managed to score an early goal. In the 55th minute, Alisson delivered a superb cross from the right flank to the far post, where Kaua Elias got ahead of the defenders and powered the ball into the net with a header – 2-1. The first substitutions were made midway through the half, with Tsukanov, Ocheretko and Newertton coming on for the Pitmen. The fresh players helped maintain a high tempo, and soon Shakhtar managed to score twice more. In the 72nd minute, Matviienko found Newertton on the left side of the box with a long pass. His shot was saved by Yashkov, but Kaua Elias was first to the rebound to make it 3-1. In the 80th minute, Luca Meirelles came on and scored with his very first touch: following a corner from the left, the Brazilian forward turned the ball into the far corner almost with his stomach – 4-1. In the 85th minute, another significant moment took place as Shakhtar Academy graduate Oleksandr Karavaiev made his debut for the club after returning in the summer. The final goal of the match came in the second minute of stoppage time: Ocheretko’s pass over the top sent Kaua Elias through one-on-one with the goalkeeper, and the Brazilian finished past Yashkov to complete his hat-trick!
5-1 – Shakhtar secured a convincing victory over Kudrivka in their first match of the 2026/27 UPL season.
Arda Turan’s team will play their next game away against Epicentr on Sunday, August 9. The clash at the H. Tonkocheiev Stadium in Kamianets-Podilskyi kicks off at 15:30.
Shakhtar Donetsk 5-0 (1-1) Kudrivka Chernihiv
Lviv, Arena Lviv, att.: 4,166
Goals: 1-0 Alisson (32′), 1-1 Dumaniuk (42′), 2-1 Kaua Elias (55′), 3-1 Kaua Elias (72′), 4-1 Meirelles (80′), 5-1 Kaua Elias (90+2′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Vinicius Tobias (Karavaiev, 85′), Bondar, Matviienko (c), Pedro Henrique, Nazaryna (Ocheretko, 68′), Bondarenko (Tsukanov, 68′), Pedrinho (Meirelles, 80′), Alisson, Mendoza (Newertton, 68′), Kaua Elias
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