Crushing victory!
Sunday, September 20, 2026
|
Shakhtar hosted LNZ in the UPL round 7 in Lviv
Shakhtar head coach Arda Turan selected the following starting line-up for this encounter: Riznyk was in goal, Matviienko and Bondar operated at centre-back, Karavaiev and Pedro Henrique appeared as full-backs, Ocheretko, Marlon Gomes and Isaque formed the midfield, Alisson and Mendoza were deployed as wingers, with Traore performing as a centre forward.
The ceremonial kick-off was taken by passionate Shakhtar fan Artem Stepanenko, a senior officer and crew commander of a ground robotic system with the 2nd Separate Special Purpose Detachment Omega. From the first days of the full-scale invasion, Artem took up the defence of Ukraine and participated in combat operations in the Donetsk, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions. At the end of 2025, he suffered a serious injury near Pokrovsk after being hit by a guided aerial bomb. Despite this, Artem helped evacuate wounded soldiers and a fallen brother-in-arms. For his heroic service and courage, he was awarded the Orders for Courage, 2nd and 3rd Class. Today, the unbreakable warrior continues to serve in the combat zone, defending Ukraine and fighting for its freedom.
Plenty of action before the break, but no goals
The match began with a chance for the visitors. In the opening minutes, Riznyk saved Jashari’s effort from inside the box, then kept out Ndiaga’s follow-up. The Orange-and-Blacks responded with a series of attacks of their own, but failed to create any clear-cut chances. The Cherkasy side had another opportunity when Ndiaga headed the ball from a corner, but Riznyk reacted well once again. In the 22nd minute, LNZ were unexpectedly reduced to 10 men: the team’s captain Muravskyi deliberately elbowed Marlon Gomes in the face and was shown a straight red card by the referee. The Pitmen scored almost immediately when Traore followed up on the rebound, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Arda Turan’s side could also have been awarded a penalty when Traore went down in the box after being pushed by an opponent, but Denys Shurman did not award a foul. The visitors threatened again with a dangerous attack: Drambaiev broke through one-on-one but missed the right corner. And towards the end of the half, the hosts could have scored, but after a fine passing move with his teammates, Marlon Gomes shot wide from the edge of the box.
Pedrinho’s goalscoring return, with Newertton and Isaque finding the net
From the start of the second half, the Miners pinned the opposition back and began building combinations around the penalty area, but breaking through a packed defence proved extremely difficult. The visitors, meanwhile, looked to launch quick counter-attacks whenever the opportunity arose, with Riznyk once again coming to the team’s rescue after a shot from Kuzyk. To add more variety to the attack, Arda Turan brought on Pedrinho, who had returned from injury, and Newertton. And it worked almost immediately: in the 63rd minute, Ocheretko found Traore in the box with a pass from deep, and with his back to goal, the striker laid the ball off to Pedrinho, who found the top left corner with a fine curling effort to make it 1-0. A few minutes later, the Pitmen doubled their lead: Pedrinho played a superb pass from the centre circle to send Marlon Gomes through one-on-one, the latter rounded the goalkeeper, who brought him down, and Newertton confidently converted the penalty, sending the ball into the bottom left corner – 2-0. The Orange-and-Blacks did not let up and continued to attack. The goalkeeper tipped Isaque’s effort over the crossbar, then Ledvii saved dangerous shots from substitute Kaua Elias and Vinicius Tobias, as well as dealing with an attempt from Pedrinho. And in the 83rd minute, the score became lopsided: Pedro Henrique played a superb through ball into the left side of the box for Isaque to run onto and easily beat the goalkeeper.
3-0 – Shakhtar beat LNZ and continue to share the lead in the UPL table.
Club football now takes a three-week break for international fixtures. The Miners’ next match will be on October 10, when they travel to face Veres in the UPL round 8.
Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 (0-0) LNZ Cherkasy
Lviv, Arena Lviv, att.: 4,117
Goals: 1-0 Pedrinho (63′), 2-0 Newertton (70′), 3-0 Isaque (83′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Karavaiev (Vinicius Tobias, 73′), Bondar, Matviienko (c), Pedro Henrique, Ocheretko, Marlon Gomes, Isaque (Meirelles, 87′), Alisson (Pedrinho, 57′), Mendoza (Newertton, 57), Traore (Kaua Elias, 73′)
Sending-off: Muravskyi (22′, straight red)
The ceremonial kick-off was taken by passionate Shakhtar fan Artem Stepanenko, a senior officer and crew commander of a ground robotic system with the 2nd Separate Special Purpose Detachment Omega. From the first days of the full-scale invasion, Artem took up the defence of Ukraine and participated in combat operations in the Donetsk, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions. At the end of 2025, he suffered a serious injury near Pokrovsk after being hit by a guided aerial bomb. Despite this, Artem helped evacuate wounded soldiers and a fallen brother-in-arms. For his heroic service and courage, he was awarded the Orders for Courage, 2nd and 3rd Class. Today, the unbreakable warrior continues to serve in the combat zone, defending Ukraine and fighting for its freedom.
Plenty of action before the break, but no goals
The match began with a chance for the visitors. In the opening minutes, Riznyk saved Jashari’s effort from inside the box, then kept out Ndiaga’s follow-up. The Orange-and-Blacks responded with a series of attacks of their own, but failed to create any clear-cut chances. The Cherkasy side had another opportunity when Ndiaga headed the ball from a corner, but Riznyk reacted well once again. In the 22nd minute, LNZ were unexpectedly reduced to 10 men: the team’s captain Muravskyi deliberately elbowed Marlon Gomes in the face and was shown a straight red card by the referee. The Pitmen scored almost immediately when Traore followed up on the rebound, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Arda Turan’s side could also have been awarded a penalty when Traore went down in the box after being pushed by an opponent, but Denys Shurman did not award a foul. The visitors threatened again with a dangerous attack: Drambaiev broke through one-on-one but missed the right corner. And towards the end of the half, the hosts could have scored, but after a fine passing move with his teammates, Marlon Gomes shot wide from the edge of the box.
Pedrinho’s goalscoring return, with Newertton and Isaque finding the net
From the start of the second half, the Miners pinned the opposition back and began building combinations around the penalty area, but breaking through a packed defence proved extremely difficult. The visitors, meanwhile, looked to launch quick counter-attacks whenever the opportunity arose, with Riznyk once again coming to the team’s rescue after a shot from Kuzyk. To add more variety to the attack, Arda Turan brought on Pedrinho, who had returned from injury, and Newertton. And it worked almost immediately: in the 63rd minute, Ocheretko found Traore in the box with a pass from deep, and with his back to goal, the striker laid the ball off to Pedrinho, who found the top left corner with a fine curling effort to make it 1-0. A few minutes later, the Pitmen doubled their lead: Pedrinho played a superb pass from the centre circle to send Marlon Gomes through one-on-one, the latter rounded the goalkeeper, who brought him down, and Newertton confidently converted the penalty, sending the ball into the bottom left corner – 2-0. The Orange-and-Blacks did not let up and continued to attack. The goalkeeper tipped Isaque’s effort over the crossbar, then Ledvii saved dangerous shots from substitute Kaua Elias and Vinicius Tobias, as well as dealing with an attempt from Pedrinho. And in the 83rd minute, the score became lopsided: Pedro Henrique played a superb through ball into the left side of the box for Isaque to run onto and easily beat the goalkeeper.
3-0 – Shakhtar beat LNZ and continue to share the lead in the UPL table.
Club football now takes a three-week break for international fixtures. The Miners’ next match will be on October 10, when they travel to face Veres in the UPL round 8.
Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 (0-0) LNZ Cherkasy
Lviv, Arena Lviv, att.: 4,117
Goals: 1-0 Pedrinho (63′), 2-0 Newertton (70′), 3-0 Isaque (83′)
Shakhtar: Riznyk, Karavaiev (Vinicius Tobias, 73′), Bondar, Matviienko (c), Pedro Henrique, Ocheretko, Marlon Gomes, Isaque (Meirelles, 87′), Alisson (Pedrinho, 57′), Mendoza (Newertton, 57), Traore (Kaua Elias, 73′)
Sending-off: Muravskyi (22′, straight red)
Start Slideshow
