Win in the friendly
Thursday, February 5, 2026
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On February 5, Shakhtar played the test game against the champions of Latvia Riga
Head coach Arda Turan named the following line-up for the second pre-season friendly: Fesiun was again in goal, Faryna and Ghram operated in central defence, Vinicius Tobias and Pedro Henrique played as full-backs, Ocheretko, Pedrinho and Isaque were deployed in midfield, with Lucas, Newertton and Meirelles forming the attacking trio.
A tough first half and a penalty conceded
The Miners started the match actively, immediately putting their opponents under pressure with a high tempo, and created the first dangerous chance early on: Pedrinho’s delicate pass found Lucas in front of goal, but he couldn't beat the goalkeeper from close range, and Meirelles followed up with a header, only for a Riga defender to clear the ball off the line. The Pitmen continued to push forward, and soon Newertton found himself in a promising position, but both of his shots from the edge of the box were blocked by the opponents. The Latvians responded with a sharp attack: a long-ranger from Reginaldo Ramires was parried by Kirill Fesiun. Around the middle of the half, the game settled into a positional battle in midfield. Closer to the break, the score was opened, but by the visitors. Ocheretko committed a foul in his own penalty area, and in the 39th minute, Reginaldo Ramires confidently converted the penalty into the bottom right corner.
A comeback win with goals from Eguinaldo and Konoplia
At half-time, Arda Turan made a wide rotation, replacing all outfield players. The fresh legs added dynamism and sharpness, and after several dangerous approaches to the Riga side’s goal, including a chance when Bondarenko’s long-range shot hit the left post, Shakhtar managed to turn the game around with goals. In the 54th minute, Kaua Elias broke into the penalty area but was denied a shot. Marlon Gomes battled for the rebound, which fell to Eguinaldo, who calmly beat the goalkeeper, making it 1-1. The Pitmen’s attacks continued and they scored again in the 61st minute: Nazaryna delivered a cross from the right corner into the centre of the box and Yukhym Konoplia jumped highest to head the ball into the corner – 2-1. The course of the game forced the Latvian champions to push forward, while the Orange-and-Blacks gained space for counter-attacks. Bondarenko had a good chance to extend the lead, but his shot from the centre of the penalty area was saved by the goalkeeper. Kaua Elias attempted a long-range effort in a quick attack, but failed to hit the target. In the 80th minute, Bondarenko won a free-kick at the edge of the box, and Nazaryna’s powerful low strike went just inches past the left post. The best chance in the closing stages fell to Marlon Gomes, who headed a cross from Azarov from the edge of the goal area – only for the ball to strike the crossbar. In stoppage time, the young goalkeeper Rostyslav Bahlai kept the Pitmen safe, parrying a dangerous shot from the corner.
2-1 – Shakhtar defeated Riga in their test game at the training camp in Türkiye.
Tomorrow, the next opponents of the Miners in the winter friendlies will be announced. Follow the latest news on the official website shakhtar.com and the club’s social media channels.
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 (0-1) Riga
Antalya, Mardan Stadium, att.: 100
Goals: 0-1 Reginaldo Ramires (39′, pen.), 1-1 Eguinaldo (54′), 2-1 Konoplia (61′)
Shakhtar: Fesiun (Bahlai, 61′), Vinicius Tobias (Konoplia, 46′), Ghram (Bondar, 46′), Faryna (Matviienko, 46′), Pedro Henrique (Azarov, 46′), Ocheretko (Nazaryna, 46′), Isaque (Marlon Gomes, 46′), Pedrinho (c) (Bondarenko, 46′), Lucas (Prosper, 46′), Newertton (Eguinaldo, 46′), Meirelles (Kaua Elias, 46′)
A tough first half and a penalty conceded
The Miners started the match actively, immediately putting their opponents under pressure with a high tempo, and created the first dangerous chance early on: Pedrinho’s delicate pass found Lucas in front of goal, but he couldn't beat the goalkeeper from close range, and Meirelles followed up with a header, only for a Riga defender to clear the ball off the line. The Pitmen continued to push forward, and soon Newertton found himself in a promising position, but both of his shots from the edge of the box were blocked by the opponents. The Latvians responded with a sharp attack: a long-ranger from Reginaldo Ramires was parried by Kirill Fesiun. Around the middle of the half, the game settled into a positional battle in midfield. Closer to the break, the score was opened, but by the visitors. Ocheretko committed a foul in his own penalty area, and in the 39th minute, Reginaldo Ramires confidently converted the penalty into the bottom right corner.
A comeback win with goals from Eguinaldo and Konoplia
At half-time, Arda Turan made a wide rotation, replacing all outfield players. The fresh legs added dynamism and sharpness, and after several dangerous approaches to the Riga side’s goal, including a chance when Bondarenko’s long-range shot hit the left post, Shakhtar managed to turn the game around with goals. In the 54th minute, Kaua Elias broke into the penalty area but was denied a shot. Marlon Gomes battled for the rebound, which fell to Eguinaldo, who calmly beat the goalkeeper, making it 1-1. The Pitmen’s attacks continued and they scored again in the 61st minute: Nazaryna delivered a cross from the right corner into the centre of the box and Yukhym Konoplia jumped highest to head the ball into the corner – 2-1. The course of the game forced the Latvian champions to push forward, while the Orange-and-Blacks gained space for counter-attacks. Bondarenko had a good chance to extend the lead, but his shot from the centre of the penalty area was saved by the goalkeeper. Kaua Elias attempted a long-range effort in a quick attack, but failed to hit the target. In the 80th minute, Bondarenko won a free-kick at the edge of the box, and Nazaryna’s powerful low strike went just inches past the left post. The best chance in the closing stages fell to Marlon Gomes, who headed a cross from Azarov from the edge of the goal area – only for the ball to strike the crossbar. In stoppage time, the young goalkeeper Rostyslav Bahlai kept the Pitmen safe, parrying a dangerous shot from the corner.
2-1 – Shakhtar defeated Riga in their test game at the training camp in Türkiye.
Tomorrow, the next opponents of the Miners in the winter friendlies will be announced. Follow the latest news on the official website shakhtar.com and the club’s social media channels.
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 (0-1) Riga
Antalya, Mardan Stadium, att.: 100
Goals: 0-1 Reginaldo Ramires (39′, pen.), 1-1 Eguinaldo (54′), 2-1 Konoplia (61′)
Shakhtar: Fesiun (Bahlai, 61′), Vinicius Tobias (Konoplia, 46′), Ghram (Bondar, 46′), Faryna (Matviienko, 46′), Pedro Henrique (Azarov, 46′), Ocheretko (Nazaryna, 46′), Isaque (Marlon Gomes, 46′), Pedrinho (c) (Bondarenko, 46′), Lucas (Prosper, 46′), Newertton (Eguinaldo, 46′), Meirelles (Kaua Elias, 46′)
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