Traore’s hat-trick
Sunday, February 22, 2026
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Shakhtar hosted Karpaty on the UPL MD17
For the first competitive game of the year, head coach of the Miners Arda Turan selected the following line-up: Riznyk was in goal, Matviienko and Bondar played in central defence, Vinicius Tobias and Pedro Henrique operated on the defensive flanks; Nazaryna, Bondarenko and Marlon Gomes formed the midfield, Eguinaldo and Pedrinho were deployed on the wings, with Meirelles taking the centre-forward position.
The first symbolic kick of the ball was taken by war veteran, Shakhtar ultras member and heroic fighter of the Offensive Guard Brigade Pomsta of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Serhii Borysenko (call sign Malyi). He bravely stood up for the defence of Ukraine and carried out combat missions on the Kostiantynivka front, where he was wounded while performing one of them.
Complete dominance by Shakhtar in play, but goalless at half-time
From the opening minutes, the Pitmen dominated the pitch, registering around 80% possession in the first half, yet the layered defence of Karpaty remained solid and made almost no mistakes. In the opening half-hour, Bondar, Nazaryna and Eguinaldo had chances, but none posed a serious threat to goal. The first real chances late in the first half: first, Pedrinho almost found the top-right corner with a follow-up after Tobias’ shot was blocked; then, after a free-kick strike from Nazaryna and a deflection, the ball flew just past the left crossbar. Later, Pedrinho nearly lobbed the ball under the crossbar from a tight angle – Domchak managed to turn it behind for a corner.
Winning hat-trick from Traore in his 100th match for Shakhtar
The second half began with a chance for Karpaty: Stênio broke through the right flank into the penalty area and struck low towards the near post – Riznyk made the save. The nominal visitors continued to press and had another decent opportunity when Kostenko shot from the edge of the goal area, sending the ball just past the post. Meanwhile, the Pitmen’s coaching staff made two waves of substitutions: first, Isaque and Alisson came on, followed later by Konoplia and Traore. It’s worth noting that the Brazilian winger played his first competitive match since September, while the Burkinabe striker returned after six months of recovery – marking his milestone 100th match for the Donetsk club. And it was precisely these fresh players who created the two decisive goals. In the 67th minute, Alisson delivered a cross from the right flank, and Lassina Traore powerfully headed the ball under the crossbar – 1-0. Just four minutes later, in the 71st minute, Alisson again set up the forward in a good position, and Lassina Traore struck into the near corner to double the team’s lead – 2-0. After that, the game settled down, but in the 82nd minute the Orange-and-Blacks sealed the result: Isaque won the ball from an opponent on the edge of the penalty area and laid it off to Lassina Traore, who finished into the almost empty net to complete his first hat-trick for the Miners!
3-0 – Shakhtar defeat Karpaty in the first Ukrainian Championship match after the winter break.
Arda Turan’s team will play their next match on Friday, February 27, when they host Veres in UPL the round 18. The game will take place at the Arena Lviv, with kickoff scheduled for 15:30.
Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 (0-0) Karpaty Lviv
Lviv, Arena Lviv, att.: 4,117
Goals: 1-0 Traore (67′), 2-0 Traore (71′), 3-0 Traore (82′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Vinicius Tobias (Konoplia, 65′), Bondar, Matviienko (c), Pedro Henrique, Nazaryna, Bondarenko (Isaque, 55′), Marlon Gomes, Pedrinho (Ocheretko, 85′), Eguinaldo (Alisson, 55′), Meirelles (Traore, 65′)
The first symbolic kick of the ball was taken by war veteran, Shakhtar ultras member and heroic fighter of the Offensive Guard Brigade Pomsta of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Serhii Borysenko (call sign Malyi). He bravely stood up for the defence of Ukraine and carried out combat missions on the Kostiantynivka front, where he was wounded while performing one of them.
Complete dominance by Shakhtar in play, but goalless at half-time
From the opening minutes, the Pitmen dominated the pitch, registering around 80% possession in the first half, yet the layered defence of Karpaty remained solid and made almost no mistakes. In the opening half-hour, Bondar, Nazaryna and Eguinaldo had chances, but none posed a serious threat to goal. The first real chances late in the first half: first, Pedrinho almost found the top-right corner with a follow-up after Tobias’ shot was blocked; then, after a free-kick strike from Nazaryna and a deflection, the ball flew just past the left crossbar. Later, Pedrinho nearly lobbed the ball under the crossbar from a tight angle – Domchak managed to turn it behind for a corner.
Winning hat-trick from Traore in his 100th match for Shakhtar
The second half began with a chance for Karpaty: Stênio broke through the right flank into the penalty area and struck low towards the near post – Riznyk made the save. The nominal visitors continued to press and had another decent opportunity when Kostenko shot from the edge of the goal area, sending the ball just past the post. Meanwhile, the Pitmen’s coaching staff made two waves of substitutions: first, Isaque and Alisson came on, followed later by Konoplia and Traore. It’s worth noting that the Brazilian winger played his first competitive match since September, while the Burkinabe striker returned after six months of recovery – marking his milestone 100th match for the Donetsk club. And it was precisely these fresh players who created the two decisive goals. In the 67th minute, Alisson delivered a cross from the right flank, and Lassina Traore powerfully headed the ball under the crossbar – 1-0. Just four minutes later, in the 71st minute, Alisson again set up the forward in a good position, and Lassina Traore struck into the near corner to double the team’s lead – 2-0. After that, the game settled down, but in the 82nd minute the Orange-and-Blacks sealed the result: Isaque won the ball from an opponent on the edge of the penalty area and laid it off to Lassina Traore, who finished into the almost empty net to complete his first hat-trick for the Miners!
3-0 – Shakhtar defeat Karpaty in the first Ukrainian Championship match after the winter break.
Arda Turan’s team will play their next match on Friday, February 27, when they host Veres in UPL the round 18. The game will take place at the Arena Lviv, with kickoff scheduled for 15:30.
Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 (0-0) Karpaty Lviv
Lviv, Arena Lviv, att.: 4,117
Goals: 1-0 Traore (67′), 2-0 Traore (71′), 3-0 Traore (82′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Vinicius Tobias (Konoplia, 65′), Bondar, Matviienko (c), Pedro Henrique, Nazaryna, Bondarenko (Isaque, 55′), Marlon Gomes, Pedrinho (Ocheretko, 85′), Eguinaldo (Alisson, 55′), Meirelles (Traore, 65′)
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