Shakhtar U21: friendlies against Polissia U21 and UCSA
Sunday, July 19, 2026
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The Orange-and-Blacks completed a week-long training cycle with friendlies against Polissia U21 and UCSA
Shakhtar U21 continue their intensive preparations for their first official UPL-2 matches. The Miners' week-long training cycle at the Academy base in Shchaslyve concluded with two friendly matches – against Polissia U21 and UCSA.
Shakhtar U21 head coach Oleksii Bielik aims to distribute the workload among all footballers so that everyone gets as many minutes as possible and approaches the start of the season in optimal condition.
In the friendly against Polissia U21, which took place first in Zhytomyr, the Miners suffered defeat.
Polissia Zhytomyr U21 2-0 (2-0) Shakhtar Donetsk U21
For the second friendly of the week, against UCSA, Oleksii Bielik named the following starting line-up: Kicha started in goal, Zheliba, Harabazhii, Kostiuk and Korniienko were in defence, Chornеnkyi, Balakai and Sereda formed the midfield, Derykon and Hlushchenko played on the wings of the attack, with Lomaha leading the line.
Close to scoring
The opening stages of the game were played at a high intensity, with both sides battling for territorial advantage. The Orange-and-Blacks were slightly more active and spent more time in the opposition's half, looking to find space in the defence. UCSA focused on counter-attacks, but apart from long-range efforts, they failed to create any truly dangerous moments near Kicha's goal. In the 36th minute, the Miners had a promising chance to open the scoring when Korniienko aimed for the far corner from the flank, but his effort went wide. Two or three minutes later, the Pitmen produced an excellent move: after Chornеnkyi's pass into the final third, Lomaha was just a few centimetres short of getting the ball on target.
Missed chances and a disappointing goal late on
The second half started more actively for the opponents, and they could have opened the scoring early in the half – but Kicha made the save. Soon afterwards, the Miners pushed the game away from their own goal and responded with a series of dangerous attacks. Sereda and Yushchenko both tried their luck from distance, but without success. In the 63rd minute, Oleksii Bielik made a number of substitutions to freshen up the side. Immediately after that, Yushchenko and Harmash combined to create a dangerous chance after an interception, but their effort was blocked by UCSA defenders. Zubrii had the next opportunity, firing from the central edge of the penalty area towards the bottom corner, but his shot went wide. As the match approached its conclusion, the Crusaders began reaching the final third more often and managed to find the target against Shakhtar U21.
Shakhtar Donetsk U21 0-1 (0-0) UCSA Tarasivka
Shchaslyve, Arsenal Arena
Goal: trialist (83′)
Shakhtar U21: Kicha, Zheliba (Reshetnikov, 63′), Harabazhii (Verhun, 63′), Kostiuk, Korniienko (Sheleketa, 63′), Chornеnkyi (Yushchenko, 46′), Balakai (c) (Tiutiunov, 63′), Sereda (Davydenko, 63′), Derykon (Harmash, 63′), Hlushchenko (Zubrii, 63′), Lomaha (Derykon, 63′)
Shakhtar U21 head coach Oleksii Bielik aims to distribute the workload among all footballers so that everyone gets as many minutes as possible and approaches the start of the season in optimal condition.
In the friendly against Polissia U21, which took place first in Zhytomyr, the Miners suffered defeat.
Polissia Zhytomyr U21 2-0 (2-0) Shakhtar Donetsk U21
For the second friendly of the week, against UCSA, Oleksii Bielik named the following starting line-up: Kicha started in goal, Zheliba, Harabazhii, Kostiuk and Korniienko were in defence, Chornеnkyi, Balakai and Sereda formed the midfield, Derykon and Hlushchenko played on the wings of the attack, with Lomaha leading the line.
Close to scoring
The opening stages of the game were played at a high intensity, with both sides battling for territorial advantage. The Orange-and-Blacks were slightly more active and spent more time in the opposition's half, looking to find space in the defence. UCSA focused on counter-attacks, but apart from long-range efforts, they failed to create any truly dangerous moments near Kicha's goal. In the 36th minute, the Miners had a promising chance to open the scoring when Korniienko aimed for the far corner from the flank, but his effort went wide. Two or three minutes later, the Pitmen produced an excellent move: after Chornеnkyi's pass into the final third, Lomaha was just a few centimetres short of getting the ball on target.
Missed chances and a disappointing goal late on
The second half started more actively for the opponents, and they could have opened the scoring early in the half – but Kicha made the save. Soon afterwards, the Miners pushed the game away from their own goal and responded with a series of dangerous attacks. Sereda and Yushchenko both tried their luck from distance, but without success. In the 63rd minute, Oleksii Bielik made a number of substitutions to freshen up the side. Immediately after that, Yushchenko and Harmash combined to create a dangerous chance after an interception, but their effort was blocked by UCSA defenders. Zubrii had the next opportunity, firing from the central edge of the penalty area towards the bottom corner, but his shot went wide. As the match approached its conclusion, the Crusaders began reaching the final third more often and managed to find the target against Shakhtar U21.
Shakhtar Donetsk U21 0-1 (0-0) UCSA Tarasivka
Shchaslyve, Arsenal Arena
Goal: trialist (83′)
Shakhtar U21: Kicha, Zheliba (Reshetnikov, 63′), Harabazhii (Verhun, 63′), Kostiuk, Korniienko (Sheleketa, 63′), Chornеnkyi (Yushchenko, 46′), Balakai (c) (Tiutiunov, 63′), Sereda (Davydenko, 63′), Derykon (Harmash, 63′), Hlushchenko (Zubrii, 63′), Lomaha (Derykon, 63′)
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