CSKA Moscow’s opponent in the UEFA Cup Shakhtar Donetsk won a laborious victory of over Illichevets of Mariupol in Ukrainian Premier League action. Manager Mircea Lucescu saw his squad trough to a 2-1 win thanks to two goals by Aleksiy Hai and Darijo Srna (pictured), earning the 5th place in the standings, with 34 points after the 18th game.
Shakhtar could have opened the score sheet 8 minutes into the game, when Adriano came one-on-one with Illichevets goalie Ihor Shukhovtsev but failed. It was Shakhtar’s Andriy Pyatov’s turn soon after, when he intercepted Vorobey after the later sprinted past the entire Shakhtar defense.
Shakhtar took the lead in the 22nd minute. Shevchuk organized a raid through the left flank and served Hai, who only had no qualms sending the ball into the net form the goal line.
Shakhtar let down their guard in the second half and paid for it: if Pyatov was able to stop Vorobey’s first attempt, he was less successful 52 minutes into the game, when the same Vorobey crossed from the left and Kashevsky headed in to level the game.
Vorobey, who was the best among Illichevets men, could have buried Shakhtar’s hopes if his shot at the 75th minute did not hit the post. Shakhtar did not waste their chance in the 81st when Srna took a perfect free kick, earning his side a 2-1 victory.
Srna is now among the best Croatian players with a rating of 81.15 points, just behind Daniel Pranich, who has 103.92 points. Oleksiy Hai is in second place among Ukrainian midfielders with 103.92 points, just behind Zenit’s Anatolyi Timoshuk, who has 66.34 points.
© FTBL