Ukrainian Cup. Shakhtar - Vorskla 1:1. A draw with the empty stands

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Shakhtar 1:1 Vorskla Hay 55 Curri 64 Shust, Hay, Yezerskiy (Hubschman 65), Kucher, Shevchuk, Polyanskiy (Duljaj 65), Belik, Priyomov (Ilsinho 56), Fernandinho, Hladkiy, Adriano Dolhanskiy, Dallku, Markoski, Chesnakov, Curri, Medvedev, Juricic (Momot 72), Donets, Stojmirovic (Klimov 67), Lubenets, Shvets (Yanouzi 60) Yellow card: Shevchuk 11 Yellow card: Chesnakov 21 Red card: Donets 28 Missed penalty: Stojmirovic 38

Last time Shakhtar gathered a crowd of three thousands in the 90s. However poor results of late and inconvenient time of the game start affected the attendance. In addition the team had won their firs leg of the cup tie against Vorskla 3:0 putting their qualification beyond doubt.

Vorskla weren’t going to give up and started the game confidently. They contained Shakhtar attacks (Juricic blocked Luis Adriano’s shot from within the penalty area) and tried to catch them on the counter – Shevchuk had to stop Donets’ breakthrough at the expense of the yellow card. Shevchuk took active part in attacking actions of his team and his and Belik’s crosses often presented problems for Serhiy Dolhanskiy. Belik could make a goal assist as Hladkiy headed the ball slightly wide after his cross from the left. Just minute before that Yezerskiy could break the deadlock but his header from the corner of the six-yard box hit Curri.

Then Vorskla had their chance to score when Lubenets shot from 18 meters into the left corner but the ball went past the goalpost. Fernandinho responded with the shot from the edge of the area after which the ball whistled over the bar.

After the corner Vorskla lost the ball and Shakhtar launched a quick counterattack in which Donets brought down Priyomov and immediately saw the red card from the referee. After less than half –hour of the game visitors were down to ten men. However in ten minutes they got the chance to score from the spot kick. Markoski sent the ball to the path of Stojmirovic, Shust and Yezerskiy didn’t understand each other and the forward went one-on-one with the keeper who rushed out to meet the Serbian striker and fouled him. However Stojmirovic failed to convert the penalty as he hit the bar first and then Shust saved his header on the rebound.

In the beginning of the first half Vorskla again were more active and Yezerskiy had to clear the ball for the corner in a spectacular leap. However visitors got no profit from it. Instead Shakhtar soon took the lead. Hay was the first to come to the rebound after the corner and drove the ball home from 15 meters.

After the goal hosts became even more relaxed. Fernandinho tried to dribble past half the squad of Vorskla, was tripped and shot from the free kick from 23 meters hitting the wall. Then he played one-two with Luis Adriano but failed to threaten Dolhanskiy’s goal seriously. After that Polyanskiy tried to take part in the attack but Curri won the ball off him, ran to Shakhtar’s penalty area where he headed in Dallku’s cross from the right – 1:1.

The teams began to play even more slowly. Shakhtar had advantage in the last 15 minutes but Dolhanskiy saved Shevchuk’s shot, Luis Adriano hit the post and Belik’s two headers went wide.

Anatoliy Momot, FC Vorskla head coach

- First of all I’d like to congratulate Shakhtar on entering the next phase of this competition – the Cup semi-final. I can say that today’s match was sort of consolation prise for us. Due to some circumstances, 6 first team players were unable to take part in the match. This is why I had to field our young player. Some of them are 19 and even 17 years old.

At some point I realised that the match was developing under the same scenario it did in Poltava. No goal before the break and then we concede on 55 minute. Just like in the first match. And again one player was sent off. I know that the Miners were not trying hard and many players have already gone on vacation.

There are many young players in our squad. With God’s help we shall invite club-trained players to the first team during pre-season time. I am grateful to my players for the way they were playing today. We looked good even after one of us was sent off. Equal score smoothed the impression we got after we received a red card.

It’s good that this football year is coming to an end. In autumn we took three penalty kicks and missed all three times… I’d like to say thanks to my boys once again. And we can go on vacation.

- Is Serhiy Kravchenko staying at Vorskla?

- Yes, of course. He is one of our play makers. Last time Glavina, Kravchenko and Kulakov didn’t appear on the field… They are our key players.

- They say Dynamo and Arsenal would like to have him…

- Only rumours, nothing more. You know, that Pyatov left us. Our task is to keep good players in the team. Our scouting department was rather passive last summer. Before the kick-off of the season we reinforced the team with reserve players.

Mircea Lucescu, FC Shakhtar head coach:

- Today you fielded those players who don’t appear very often in the first team. They had no motivation today, or was it their level?

- I spoke to the players in the interval, and after the match… They all were thinking about vacation. After the match when I went to the dressing room, some of them were already leaving the room with their bags packed. They already had air tickets or something…

I am not satisfied with today’s performance and with the players’ approach to the match. I had expected more from Polyanskiy and Priyomov as well as from Hay and Shevchuk. I am not mentioning Luis Adriano who hardly moved today. He will be punished when he comes back. Players must motivate themselves. They must have this intention to prove the coach and themselves that they worth something. It is difficult to encourage oneself for the last match. Moreover, we won the previous match 0:3 and our place in the semi-final was secured.

- Famous players didn’t even shake hands with their subs when they were leaving the field.

- They were told to go strait to the dressing room. I didn’t want them to catch a cold. It wasn’t their decision.

- Who is the captain now?

- There were three candidates: Chyhrynskiy, Srna, Fernandinho. Only Fernandinho was in the lineup today, so he led the team onto the pitch. I think the most experienced player must play this role. This is why Darijo is the captain. When he is not playing – it is Dima.

- Shall we see new players in the team in the nearest future?

- I think we shall loan out some of the players, because they need more playing practice. We’ll try to assign them to a team where they could play more. Concerning new signings – we have to wait one month. We shall consider what positions need refreshment.

- Who is going to leave in winter?

- Too early to speak about it. A lot depends on whether Castillo goes or stays. Probably we shall loan him to an English club.

– That’s all?

- This is what we have today. If there are news – I shall let you know first. There were 29 players in the squad – too many. Those who played today they all are talented footballers but they need more practice to develop professionally. They must play every week, otherwise they shall stop growing.

- Could you evaluate Belik’s play?

- I still trust Belik. I think he could play on another position. He played left wing defender in friendly matches. Today I tried him on position of attacking left half back. He did his job well in Poltava. I shall be trying him on different positions until I take final decision. Belik has a professional approach to what he is doing, especially since recently. But now he must think not as a forward.

Same concerns Priyomov. He had been a striker all his life, till today when he played half back. I think he is looks better on midfielder’s position.

- What is you plan for the nearest future?

- I don’t think I shall have some rest. There is a lot of work that must be done. But if it will be possible I’d like to have at least a week to have some rest.