We are through to the UECL quarter-finals
Thursday, March 19, 2026
|
Shakhtar hosted Polish side Lech in the UEFA Conference League Round of 16 returned leg in Kraków
Arda Turan made two changes to the line-up compared with the first match, which the Miners won 3-1 away. Riznyk operated as usual in goal, Marlon Santos and Ghram were the centre-backs this time, Vinicius Tobias and Pedro Henrique appeared as fullbacks, Nazaryna, Ocheretko and Pedrinho started in midfield, were deployed as wingers, with Kaua Elias leading the line.
A half under pressure and two goals conceded
The opening of the match belonged to the nominal visitors, who needed to overturn a two-goal deficit. The Poznań-based side started with control in the opposition half and turned their first chance into a goal: in the 13th minute, Ishak headed the ball into the Pitmen’s net after a cross from the right flank. Gradually, Arda Turan’s side managed to regain the initiative and move the game closer to the Polish side’s penalty area, but the Orange-and-Blacks lacked quality in the final third. Newertton’s long-ranger was blocked by defenders, Nazaryna’s free-kick went well over the target and Kaua Elias was just short of connecting with a cross from the right flank. Towards the end of the half, the game became more balanced, with Lech’s players finishing the half more actively. First, Thórdarson’s shot towards the top corner was tipped onto the post by Riznyk with an impressive save. However, the ball struck Kaua Elias’s hand from the resulting corner in the final second of added time and the referee, after a VAR review, awarded a penalty, which Ishak converted. The aggregate score in the tie was level.
Riznyk’s saves and a decisive own goal
The second half began with an incredible double save from Riznyk: Shakhtar goalkeeper saved a powerful shot from close range by Pereira and then used his feet to deny Kozubal’s follow-up. A few minutes later, Dmytro once again rescued the team, parrying a shot from Ishak, while Thórdarson’s goal from the rebound was disallowed for offside. By the middle of the half, the game calmed down slightly, and Shakhtar coaching staff made their first substitution, bringing Isaque into midfield. In the 68th minute, the Miners finally scored a crucial goal: Newertton beat his opponent on the left flank and delivered a low cross into the goal area, where the ball deflected off Moutinho and went into the net – 1-2. This success inspired the Orange-and-Blacks, who went on to create several more chances. Pedrinho set up Alisson in a shooting position, but he fired wide from the right side of the penalty area. Immediately after, a cross from Vinicius Tobias to the left side of the box was met by Newertton, but the Poznań side's goalkeeper collected the ball. The winger had another opportunity when he fought for the ball in the opposition box and struck narrowly wide of the near post. In the final ten minutes, Arda Turan made three more changes, introducing Traore, Lucas and Eguinaldo, who returned after almost a month out. The Brazilian could have made an immediate impact, but his shot was blocked by defenders. The Polish side attempted a late push with crosses into the box, and in one of the situations Riznyk again came to the rescue, saving a powerful shot from Ishak into the right corner. However, the Ukrainian side managed to hold on to the required result.
The Miners defeated Lech on aggregate (4-3) and advanced to the next round of the competition.
Shakhtar will face AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-finals. The first game will take place in Kraków on April 9, with the return leg in the Netherlands on April 16.
Shakhtar Donetsk 1-2 (0-2) Lech Poznań
Kraków, Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium, att.: 17,754
Goals: 0-1 Ishak (13′), 0-2 Ishak (45+7′, pen.), 1-2 Moutinho (68′, og)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Vinicius Tobias, Ghram, Marlon Santos, Pedro Henrique, Nazaryna (Isaque, 62′), Ocheretko, Pedrinho (c), Alisson (Lucas, 80′), Newertton (Eguinaldo, 85′), Kaua Elias (Traore, 80′)
A half under pressure and two goals conceded
The opening of the match belonged to the nominal visitors, who needed to overturn a two-goal deficit. The Poznań-based side started with control in the opposition half and turned their first chance into a goal: in the 13th minute, Ishak headed the ball into the Pitmen’s net after a cross from the right flank. Gradually, Arda Turan’s side managed to regain the initiative and move the game closer to the Polish side’s penalty area, but the Orange-and-Blacks lacked quality in the final third. Newertton’s long-ranger was blocked by defenders, Nazaryna’s free-kick went well over the target and Kaua Elias was just short of connecting with a cross from the right flank. Towards the end of the half, the game became more balanced, with Lech’s players finishing the half more actively. First, Thórdarson’s shot towards the top corner was tipped onto the post by Riznyk with an impressive save. However, the ball struck Kaua Elias’s hand from the resulting corner in the final second of added time and the referee, after a VAR review, awarded a penalty, which Ishak converted. The aggregate score in the tie was level.
Riznyk’s saves and a decisive own goal
The second half began with an incredible double save from Riznyk: Shakhtar goalkeeper saved a powerful shot from close range by Pereira and then used his feet to deny Kozubal’s follow-up. A few minutes later, Dmytro once again rescued the team, parrying a shot from Ishak, while Thórdarson’s goal from the rebound was disallowed for offside. By the middle of the half, the game calmed down slightly, and Shakhtar coaching staff made their first substitution, bringing Isaque into midfield. In the 68th minute, the Miners finally scored a crucial goal: Newertton beat his opponent on the left flank and delivered a low cross into the goal area, where the ball deflected off Moutinho and went into the net – 1-2. This success inspired the Orange-and-Blacks, who went on to create several more chances. Pedrinho set up Alisson in a shooting position, but he fired wide from the right side of the penalty area. Immediately after, a cross from Vinicius Tobias to the left side of the box was met by Newertton, but the Poznań side's goalkeeper collected the ball. The winger had another opportunity when he fought for the ball in the opposition box and struck narrowly wide of the near post. In the final ten minutes, Arda Turan made three more changes, introducing Traore, Lucas and Eguinaldo, who returned after almost a month out. The Brazilian could have made an immediate impact, but his shot was blocked by defenders. The Polish side attempted a late push with crosses into the box, and in one of the situations Riznyk again came to the rescue, saving a powerful shot from Ishak into the right corner. However, the Ukrainian side managed to hold on to the required result.
The Miners defeated Lech on aggregate (4-3) and advanced to the next round of the competition.
Shakhtar will face AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-finals. The first game will take place in Kraków on April 9, with the return leg in the Netherlands on April 16.
Shakhtar Donetsk 1-2 (0-2) Lech Poznań
Kraków, Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium, att.: 17,754
Goals: 0-1 Ishak (13′), 0-2 Ishak (45+7′, pen.), 1-2 Moutinho (68′, og)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Vinicius Tobias, Ghram, Marlon Santos, Pedro Henrique, Nazaryna (Isaque, 62′), Ocheretko, Pedrinho (c), Alisson (Lucas, 80′), Newertton (Eguinaldo, 85′), Kaua Elias (Traore, 80′)
Start Slideshow
