Shakhtar Donetsk starts campaign off right

The hunt for the Ukrainian champions started from the get-go as UEFA Cup Champions Shakhtar Donetsk started their campaign with a solid 3-0 victory over Kryvbas Kryvy Rih.

After an early scoring chance was thwarted, Mircea Lucescu’s side took the lead at the nineteenth minute when Jádson struck a perfectly free-kick from outside of the area over the wall and into the top left corner of the net. Four minutes past the half-hour

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Shakhtar Donetsk advances to UEFA Cup final after defeating Dynamo Kyiv

The great battle between Dynamo Kyiv and Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Cup semi-finals has been hailed by many as a step of mainstream acceptance of the extraordinary level of football in the Ukraine. In historic competitions it is difficult to say there are "winners" and "losers" but instead the entire sporting community wins. That aside with Dynamo Kyiv running away with the domestic championship, Shakhtar Donetsk pulled off the upset many thought as inconceivable and now advance to the finals against Werder Bremen on 20 May.

With pride and honour on the line, it should come to no surprise the deciding goal came down to the final minute of competition. After Fernandinho's late leveler in Kyiv in the opening leg, Mircea Lucescu's side returned home with a firm advantage. After Dynamo threatened early Shakhtar opened the scoring seventeen minutes in as Darijo Srna's cross into the box wasn't cleared and Luiz Adriano provided Jádson the ball, who then drove the ball into the top corner. Chances were rare for Dynamo through the half but two minutes after the break Yuri Semin's men evened the match with their customary flourish. Ukraine internationals Artem Milevskiy and Oleksandr Aliyev linked up with the midfielder supplying the ball to Ismaël Bangoura who sent the ball over Shakhtar 'keeper Andriy Pyatov. Finally with a minute left Ilsinho received a long pass on the right and after circumventing Badr El Kaddouri and Ayila Yussuf he sent the ball into the far lower corner.

Gracious in defeat Dynamo's Yuri Semin said after the match:

"First of all I would like to congratulate Shakhtar on their victory and wish them good luck in the final. To my mind, it was an interesting and exciting match just as a UEFA Cup semi-final should be. We made two mistakes while Shakhtar made none. That is why we lost tonight. Everyone [from Dynamo] who was on the pitch today has something to reproach himself for. But there was nothing wrong with the level of commitment from my players. They prepared well and looked good physically, but we also have to remember that Shakhtar are a very strong side. It was a game of two equal rivals and we lost out."

Shakhtar Donetsk's Mircea Lucescu noted the historical importance of the victory:

"We achieved something great today. We are now a part of the history of European football. The fact we will play in Istanbul means so much for us. It was a tough game as Dynamo were at their best as well. Having drawn the first leg, tonight we tried to close down the space and managed to do it. We made just one mistake when, because of [Mykola] Ischenko's inexperience, we lost sight of Bangoura. The result is just and deserved. The level of football corresponded to the high status of a UEFA Cup semi-final. The fans were treated to both a show and a battle. We still have games to play against Dynamo [domestically] and that's good because they are always interesting and improve the level of the Ukrainian league. Both teams are quite young and I'm sure they will continue to perform well in Europe in the future."

Romania hands the reigns to Răzvan Lucescu

Following the letting go of Victor Piţurcă, the Federaţia Română de Fotbal (Romanian Football Federation) has decided to hand the reigns of the national team to Răzvan Lucescu. With a goal of reviving the "tricolori" he has experienced tremendous success as a manager of FC Braşov and Rapid Bucureşti after his playing days with FC Sportul Studenţesc and Rapid concluded. A skilled tactician, Răzvan has his eye on the pulse of development of the game and will provide Romania the long-term leadership it requires as it looks ahead to Euro 2012. His appointment has been lauded already by his peers as a master-stroke for Romania and bodes well for the future.

For Romania fans his appointment is a bit of a double-take as his father Mircea Lucescu, presently Shakhtar Donetsk manager, led Romania in the early 1980's including their 1984 World Cup appearance.

dream semi-final comes true

Following Dynamo Kyiv's 3-0 destruction of PSG, Shakhtar Donetsk made the dream all-Ukraine UEFA Cup semi-final come true with comfortable 2-1 victory over Marseille. Although Shakhtar manager Mircea Lucescu has warned of playing at the Stade Vélodrome, it proved little match for his side that won the aggregate 4-1.

Down by two goals in aggregate at the start of the match, Marseille went on the attack immediately, pressing Shakhtar into a defending cocoon. Yet for all of Marseille's attacking intent it was Shakhtar who took the lead at thirty minutes when Ilsinho set Fernandinho free, with the Brazilian closing out from the most improbable of angles as the Marseille 'keeper was off the post. The lead did not last long as two minutes before the break Marseille grabbed an equalizer as a cross by Charles Kaboré was headed-on by Ben Arfa and after the initial attempt was denied by Andriy Pyatov, he pounded the rebound in. Dominating in possession, Marseille would not find a way past Pyatov in the second half and in the third minute of added time Luiz Adriano made it 2-1 as he drove the ball Steve Mandanda's legs and into the net from eight metres.

Shakhtar Donetsk v Marseille match preview

On Thursday both Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv enter the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup, a historic first with two Ukrainian sides in the final eight. (for a full review of Dynamo Kyiv match please visit Yevy’s great blog).

Although Shakhtar Donetsk is coming off a 1-0 loss to Metalurh Zaporizhya they are confident as Marseille visits Olympiyskiy Stadium. The loss, although difficult in their chase of Dynamo was caused mostly through a number of players absences during international break and not being prepared for the match. Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu stirred up sentiments with Dynamo as he announced the winner of their quarter final match will advance to Istanbul:

"They have a great European history and play good football. They are in very good shape and playing with a lot of enthusiasm. One of these strong teams will be in the final."

Shakhtar Donetsk Darijo Srna responded to his sides poor start of the year:

"We have a strong character and that is the reason we overcame the crisis. I'm sure we will continue to play good football and will finish second."

"Both teams play open football so the game should be interesting for the fans. Marseille are a very clever team. I'm sure we will score but the most important thing is not to concede a goal. Small mistakes can cost you a lot."

Brandão is excluded from Marseille's lineup as he is cup-tied with Shakhtar's only injury absence Serbian Igor Duljaj.

Shakhtar Donetsk continue strong run for Ukrainian clubs

Following Metalist Kharkiv's victory the prior day, Shakhtar Donetsk defeated Tottenham 2-0 in the UEFA Cup. The visiting English club, with virtually all of their regulars out of the starting lineup, were outplayed for the majority of the match but had held Shakhtar off till late in the match. After falling short with Olexandr Gladkiy's chance mid of the first half, both Ilsinho and Willian had chances after the break but still the match was deadlocked without a score. However with eleven minutes left, Jádson's corner from the right into the box was headed powerfully into the net by Ukraine capped Yevhen Seleznyov. With the ice Mircea Lucescu's side added to the lead with a perfect finish by Jádson in the final two minutes.

big changes at Shakhtar Donetsk

Although Shakhtar Donetsk does not return to domestic play till February 28 when they face FC Illychivets Mariupil, manager Mircea Lucescu has been very busy.

With Lique 1 club Olympique de Marseille negotiating a deal that would send Brandão to France, they have recalled three players from on-loan. Starting with two Ukraine U21 internationals, Ruslan Fomin returns from Metalist Kharkiv and Igor Korotetskiy comes back from Zorya Luhansk. In an interesting move the much traveled Mexican international Nery Alberto Castillo returns from a discouraging period with Manchester City and by all accounts is hopeful of a fresh start for Hirnyky.

Shakhtar Donetsk heads forward into UEFA Cup

Shakhtar Donetsk moves into the UEFA Cup with a quality 3-2 victory over Barcelona at Camp Nou. With the victory Mircea Lucescu’s finishes its Champions League run with a very sound nine points. Putting aside some cost mistakes that saw they drop points all Hirnyky supporters should be proud of their performance.

Oleksandr Hladky came with something to prove and the Ukraine international did not disappoint as he gave his side a two goal lead just before the hour mark. Veteran Sylvinho brought one back for Barcelona before Fernandinho restored the two goal margin as he volleyed home ex-Rapid Bucureşti man Răzvan Raţ’s cross with fourteen minutes remaining. Sergio Busquets drew Barcelona to within one with seven minutes remaining but the night belonged to Shakhtar Donetsk as the match concluded with a 3-2 scoreline.

Shakhtar Donetsk can now break for holidays and will return for training in the final week of January with the next round of the UEFA Cup on February 18 / 19.

Shakhtar Donetsk advances to UEFA Cup!

Shakhtar Donetsk won a place in the UEFA Cup with a stunning 5-0 triumph over Swiss squad FC Basel. Jádson gave Hirnyky the lead just past the half-hour mark as drove in a Ukraine national's Oleksiy Hai pass. Following the break Willian doubled the margin with Jádson scoring twice more and Evhen Seleznyov adding the fifth with fifteen minutes remaining. The great victory catapults Shakhtar Donetsk to UEFA Cup.

Sporting defeats Shakhtar Donetsk

Shakhtar Donetsk's hopes to advance in the Champions League ended with a 1-0 loss to Portuguese super-power Sporting. The match was tightly played before the break with realistic opportunities to score few and far between. Liedson began to assert himself after the break and the Miners seemed to be playing back on their heels. With twenty-one minutes remaining Sporting called upon veteran Brazilian striker Derlei and only four minutes after he was served-up a perfect ball by long-term Lokomotiv Moscow man Marat Izmailov, which he volleyed-into the back of the net.

With the loss Shakhtar Donetsk sits in third place two points above FC Basel in the race for the UEFA Cup spot.

Shakhtar Donetsk v Sporting

As Mircea Lucescu's Shakhtar Donetsk ready to face Portuguese giant Sporting in Lisbon, they have seen their league play improve recently included this past weekends 3-1 victory over Zorya Luhansk. While not a "perfect" match, the Miners are showing signs of improvement and putting the early season problems away.

After the match Mircea Lucescu remarked of the match:

"We won. That’s the only thing that matters. It wasn’t easy to play against a team who hardly created a scoring opportunity in 90 minutes. They were playing defensive football. Before the match we analysed all the goals that we had conceded before. Most of them were scored from standard positions, from corners, from free kicks. We noticed that it hadn’t been due to any team-mistakes but solely due to individual faults. It seemed that we were conceding on purpose, to give the opponents chance to continue their pressure and then to break the course of a match to prove to ourselves that we are capable of doing it. After that it ain’t easy to play a team that have put all eleven men behind the ball. I am not satisfied with the fact that we had to make that much efforts to achieve result. We could have done it much more easier. We lost a number of opportunities after we had made it 2-1. Again, we lost concentration and it didn’t allow us to score more. Nevertheless, I am glad we took the three points. Now we are more enthusiastic to meet Sporting next Tuesday."

Sitting in third place after a series of disappointing Champions League matches where the Miners discarded points late, a victory in Lisbon would bring them level with Sporting with two matches to play.

Regarding the match he commented:

"We are not going to concede tomorrow. We’ve got to organise the match in such a way that we could win it. We could have beaten them in Donetsk. But it happened so, that we made a mistake which allowed Sporting to win. We, in our turn, created 4-5 opportunities after which we could have scored. Besides, the team were depressed after the dramatic match with Barcelona. But now we feel much better. I hope we shall be able to play the tomorrow’s match better. Sporting are a well-organised side, especially when it goes about defensive actions. After their result in Donetsk they shall be more careful here. We must try to avoid making silly amateur mistakes."

When asked of the tactical plan and whether the Miners would use the same plan that helped them beat Benfica to the match he added:

These are two rather different matches. We practically have the same line-up that we fielded against Benfica. Our players have matured during the year. Naturally, Sporting are in a better position asthey have won the first leg of the tie. They can allow themselves to control the match. A draw would be a satisfactory result for them, whereas Shakhtar will only be satisfied with a win.

Sporting manager Paulo Bento is aware his club sits on the verge of qualifying for the final sixteen: "We know that if we win, we're virtually through to the last sixteen."

"We have a clear objective – to get the points that will practically secure qualification for us. We have faith in our ability to go into the game strongly, and when a team has qualities like ours does, and is playing at home with a great atmosphere behind them, of course we feel we have a good chance to win. It would be great for the club, the players, and the coach as well. We displayed great togetherness in Donetsk, and we know we'll approach this match with belief and on the front foot."