Topping the UPL!
Friday, March 6, 2026
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Shakhtar faced Oleksandriia away in the UPL round 19
The coaching staff of the Miners selected the following line-up for this game: Riznyk was in goal, Matviienko and Bondar played in central defence, Konoplia and Pedro Henrique operated on the flanks, Nazaryna, Pedrinho and Marlon Gomes formed the midfield, Alisson and Newertton were deployed on the wings, with Traore taking the centre-forward position.
A tough game on a tough pitch
From the opening minutes, Shakhtar footballers were battling not only the opponents but also the pitch at the CSC Nika as its condition did not favour quality combination football. However, the Orange-and-Blacks dictated the play, enjoying a clear advantage in possession and creating the more dangerous chances. Early on, Traore set up Marlon Gomes with an open goal, but he failed to connect with the ball. A few minutes later, the Burkinabe forward went down in the penalty area after contact with a defender, but the referee did not award a penalty. Alisson had a good opportunity as well, beat his opponent on the right side of the box and shot towards the far corner, but the ball went just wide of the post. Midway through the half, the Pitmen tried their luck from distance, but attempts by Pedrinho, Marlon Gomes and Newertton did not produce a result. Traore threatened the goal twice more, first narrowly failing to reach the ball in the six-yard box and then heading over the crossbar. A minute before the break, the hosts had their chance, but after Ndiaga’s shot the ball struck the post.
Traore strikes again to secure the win
The second half began at a lively pace, and if Newertton tested the goalkeeper with a shot from the corner of the box, then a dangerous low cross from Ndiaga at the other end was intercepted by Dmytro Riznyk. Then two controversial incidents occurred in Oleksandriia’s penalty area, first with Marlon Gomes and then with Traore going down after clashes with the home defenders – each time, the referees did not call a foul. However, in the 61st minute the Miners managed to break the deadlock: Pedro Henrique drove into the box on a quick left-flank attack and crossed for Lassina Traore to tap into the empty net – 0-1. The visitors could have extended their advantage soon after, but Newertton’s curling effort went just centimetres wide of the right post. Midway through the half, the Pitmen again appealed for a penalty when the ball struck Behiratche’s hand following a corner, yet the officials once more ignored the incident. The Orange-and-Blacks continued to control the flow of the game and create opportunities, although long-ranges from Marlon Gomes and Pedrinho missed the target. In the final stages of the match, the visitors’ coaching staff made four substitutions – Isaque and Prosper came on, followed shortly after by Ocheretko and Kaun Elias. Late in the match, the teams exchanged dangerous chances: Riznyk played a long pass to send Marlon Gomes one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but he failed to control the ball, and in response, Castillo went for a close-range shot after a wide cross, but his attempt was blocked.
1-0 – Shakhtar defeated Oleksandriia and continue to lead the UPL table on their own.
Next week, the Miners return to the European campaign. Shakhtar will face Polish side Lech away in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League Round of 16 on March 12. The game at the Poznan Stadium kicks off at 19:45 Kyiv time. Tickets for the away section are on sale.
Oleksandriia 0-1 (0-0) Shakhtar Donetsk
Oleksandriia, CSC Nika, att.: 1,180
Goal: 0-1 Traore (61′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Konoplia, Bondar, Matviienko (c), Pedro Henrique, Nazaryna, Pedrinho (Ocheretko, 89′), Marlon Gomes (Vinicius Tobias, 90+3′), Alisson (Isaque, 80′), Newertton (Prosper, 80′), Traore (Kaua Elias, 89′)
A tough game on a tough pitch
From the opening minutes, Shakhtar footballers were battling not only the opponents but also the pitch at the CSC Nika as its condition did not favour quality combination football. However, the Orange-and-Blacks dictated the play, enjoying a clear advantage in possession and creating the more dangerous chances. Early on, Traore set up Marlon Gomes with an open goal, but he failed to connect with the ball. A few minutes later, the Burkinabe forward went down in the penalty area after contact with a defender, but the referee did not award a penalty. Alisson had a good opportunity as well, beat his opponent on the right side of the box and shot towards the far corner, but the ball went just wide of the post. Midway through the half, the Pitmen tried their luck from distance, but attempts by Pedrinho, Marlon Gomes and Newertton did not produce a result. Traore threatened the goal twice more, first narrowly failing to reach the ball in the six-yard box and then heading over the crossbar. A minute before the break, the hosts had their chance, but after Ndiaga’s shot the ball struck the post.
Traore strikes again to secure the win
The second half began at a lively pace, and if Newertton tested the goalkeeper with a shot from the corner of the box, then a dangerous low cross from Ndiaga at the other end was intercepted by Dmytro Riznyk. Then two controversial incidents occurred in Oleksandriia’s penalty area, first with Marlon Gomes and then with Traore going down after clashes with the home defenders – each time, the referees did not call a foul. However, in the 61st minute the Miners managed to break the deadlock: Pedro Henrique drove into the box on a quick left-flank attack and crossed for Lassina Traore to tap into the empty net – 0-1. The visitors could have extended their advantage soon after, but Newertton’s curling effort went just centimetres wide of the right post. Midway through the half, the Pitmen again appealed for a penalty when the ball struck Behiratche’s hand following a corner, yet the officials once more ignored the incident. The Orange-and-Blacks continued to control the flow of the game and create opportunities, although long-ranges from Marlon Gomes and Pedrinho missed the target. In the final stages of the match, the visitors’ coaching staff made four substitutions – Isaque and Prosper came on, followed shortly after by Ocheretko and Kaun Elias. Late in the match, the teams exchanged dangerous chances: Riznyk played a long pass to send Marlon Gomes one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but he failed to control the ball, and in response, Castillo went for a close-range shot after a wide cross, but his attempt was blocked.
1-0 – Shakhtar defeated Oleksandriia and continue to lead the UPL table on their own.
Next week, the Miners return to the European campaign. Shakhtar will face Polish side Lech away in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League Round of 16 on March 12. The game at the Poznan Stadium kicks off at 19:45 Kyiv time. Tickets for the away section are on sale.
Oleksandriia 0-1 (0-0) Shakhtar Donetsk
Oleksandriia, CSC Nika, att.: 1,180
Goal: 0-1 Traore (61′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Konoplia, Bondar, Matviienko (c), Pedro Henrique, Nazaryna, Pedrinho (Ocheretko, 89′), Marlon Gomes (Vinicius Tobias, 90+3′), Alisson (Isaque, 80′), Newertton (Prosper, 80′), Traore (Kaua Elias, 89′)
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