Celebration ended in style!

29-08-10 20:59:04

Tonight, on August 29, Shakhtar marked its professional celebration with a confident victory over Iiilichivets from Mariupol. Having scored only one goal, The Pitmen had a dozen of brilliant of goal-scoring opportunities.

Before the game, Ukrainian singer Svetlana Loboda warmed up the crowd with immortal hit “We will rock you” as well as the orchestra of A.F.Zasyadko Coal Mine Enterprise with unofficial anthem of Donetsk region “Spyat kurgany temnye”.

Comparing with the last match, Mircea Lucescu made some changes in the starting line-up. Vyacheslav Shevchuk took Vasyl Kobin’s place on the left flank due to Kobin’s suspension. Yaroslav Rakytskyy played in the center of defense, Taras Stepanenko acted as an anchor and Eduardo da Silva was in front.

3 mins. The hosts started with all guns blazing. Srna swiftly cut inside and passed to Willian who was in the penalty area. Willian decided to drive in low into the far corner – just wide of the post.

11 mins. Another moment from the captain. Dario approached the area played up the ball for his left foot and struck but, unfortunately, the ball went wide.

12 mins. Shevchuk displayed vintage craft near the opponent’s goal. He chipped the ball over the defender in Brazilian manner, drilled a cross into the penalty area. There were a number of deflections but the ball was off target.

14 mins. Mariupol tried its luck for the first time. Shakhtar’s defenders let Antonov to strike from a 20 meters range – wide of the post.

21 mins. In the middle of the time, there were series of corner – kicks taken by The Pitmen, that led to shots at goal but desperate actions of Mariupol’s defenders, who blocked the strikes in a brave manner, prevented Shakhtar from opening the score.

25 mins. Ilya Blyznyuk caused handclaps by the Donetsk crowd. One of the Mariupol players hit the ball to the subs bench section. Ilya Blyznyk, being a former goalkeeper, tried to parry it but this time he could not save it.

30 mins. Konstantyn Kravchenko was booked for his bad challenge on Willian.

35 minutes. Jadson headed the ball nicely to Eduardo providing him with attacking options. Croatian played the ball into his path, left two defenders behind but the ball was wide of the post after his left foot drive!

38 mins. Illichevets’ counter-attack was finished by sharp pass to Antonov, who struck from just outside of the area – Chygrynskyy blocked the shot but only at the cost of the injury.

41 mins. Mircea Lucescu replaced injured Chygrynskyy with Alexander Kucher.

43 mins. Pyatov had to save his team for the first time. Andrey magnificently parried Yaroshenko’s shot from a 17 meters range.

45 mins. Shakhtar lost the opportunity to score before the break. The guests committed a mistake while trying to play an offside-trap after The Pitmen’s corner-kick. Costa was eventually on the ball near the goal but he could not beat Bazhan.

During the half-time break Yuriy Shatunov cheered up the supporters by singing his old hits.

50 mins. Fernandinho took a long-range effort but the ball just went wide of the far post.

54 mins. Tishenko was booked after his bad challenge on Dario Srna

56 mins. Eduardo was shown a yellow card after he deliberately handed the ball. He was quickly replaced by Luis Adriano.

58 mins. Willian sprinted into the area from the left flank and passed back to Rakytskyy. Shakhtar’s defender tried to hit into the top corner but the ball whistled over the woodwork! Mircea Lucescu made his last substitution by bringing on Alex Teixeira for Luis Adriano.

61 mins. Goal – 1:0! At last, The Pitmen broke the deadlock. Willian was the real hero of the moment after his lashing the ball into the left corner from a 20 meters range.
 
64 mins. Savin was shown a yellow card after his deliberate denying the opposition’s attack. Meanwhile, the wave rushed the stands of Donbass – Arena!

68 mins. Costa floated a high cross into the far post, where Fernandinho awaited for it unmarked. Our midfielder took the ball and struck into the far corner – Bazhan was able to save it. During the next attack, Shevchuk, assisted by Douglas, blasted into the far corner – just wide of the post.

75 mins. The Pitmen tried their best to extend their lead. Rakytskyy, who launched onto attack, denied great opportunity, hitting the ball just centimeters wide. Another attempt to score was by Teixeira but Bazhan was on top once again having parried the shot from 18 meters range.
 
81 mins. Putivtsev saw a yellow card after his foul on Willian.

85 mins. Taras Stepanenko was booked for unprofessional behavior and Dario Srna was quick to follow, with another yellow card

90+3 mins. Vitaliy Godulyan’s whistle signaled the end of the match. Having got 3 points, Shakhtar is still at the top of the table in Ukraine championship

FC Shakhtar
Press Office