Wednesday December 8, 2010 Group Stage: Group H Finished Donbass Arena

Shakhtar Donetsk 2 - 0 Sporting Braga

  • Rat 78’
  • Luiz Adriano 83’

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  1. Shakhtar top group

    Shakhtar top group

    Razvan Rat and Luiz Adriano struck late to hand Shakhtar Donetsk top spot in Champions League Group H with a 2-0 win over Sporting Braga. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Shakhtar Donetsk
    • Sporting Braga
    • FT There goes the final whistle! It finished Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 Braga. The hosts finish top of Group H, with Arsenal second and Braga forced to settle for the Europa League.
    • 90' There will be two minutes of added time.
    • 89' The hosts are happy to soak up the atmosphere and keep possession in midfield.
    • 87' This will be the first time Shakhtar have progressed to the knockout stages.
    • 86' It's all smiles in the stands - Shakhtar's fans know they have a last 16 tie to look forward to.
    • 85' There's shouts for a Shakhtar penalty but Teixeira was offside.
    • 84' What a great group campaign this has been for Shakhtar. They're on course for their fifth win from six and will be a tough test for anyone in the knockout stages.
    • 83' GOAL! Adriano makes it 2-0! Rat fires in a low cross from the left side of the box and Adriano makes no mistake in side-footing the ball into an open net.
    • 81' BRAGA SUB: Salino makes way for Helder Barbosa.
    • 80' Nasri has put Arsenal 3-1 up at the Emirates so it looks like Group H is done and dusted.
    • 79' A deep lofted cross evades everyone but sits up for Rat on the edge of the box and the Romanian hammers a perfectly-placed shot past Artur.
    • 78' GOAL! Shakhtar take the lead! The hosts finally have the breakthrough.
    • 74' There's been another goal at the Emirates - but it's gone to Arsenal. Theo Walcott has potentially spared the Gunners' blushes.
    • 73' BRAGA SUB: Hugo Viana replages Aguiar.
    • 72' SHAKHTAR SUB: Henrik Mkhitaryan comes on for Jadson.
    • 70' It'll be some turnaround for Braga if they can summon a goal to progress. They lost their first two goals 6-0 and 3-0 respectively.
    • 69' Matheus is late with a challenge from behind and gives away a free-kick.
    • 68' BRAGA SUB: Alan is being replaced by Lima.
    • 67' Shakhtar look to play the short corner and then aim for Chygrynskiy at the far post but the cross is a little too high for him.
    • 66' Rakitskiy fires in a low cross from the left byline and it's deflected and goes out for a corner. That could have gone anywhere!
    • 65' Shakhtar string together a succession of quick passes, with the ball eventually being spread out to Stepanenko but his cross is blocked.
    • 61' Braga are beginning to show more ambition but can still afford to be more adventerous. They just need a little more support in the final third.
    • 60' After opening with two defeats, Braga showed more of their best form on the next two matchdays, defeating Partizan 2-0 at home and 1-0 away, before a 2-0 triumph against Arsenal in their final home fixture enabled them to join the London side on nine points.
    • 59' Shakhtar are preparing to make a sub. Looks like Teixeira will come on.
    • 58' Jadson lofts in a good cross from the left which just evades one team-mate but nearly finds another, only for Garcia to hoof clear for Braga.
    • 57' The corner comes to nothing but there's a buzz in the stadium now - it's game on.
    • 56' Braga have a corner. Surely they know Partizan have equalised and will put everything on the line now?
    • 55' Still very cautious from Shakhtar, who are looking to keep possession at the back and slowly work forward before seeking the final pass.
    • 54' That Partizan goal changes everything. Now, once again, Braga only need a goal to progress. Come on, let's see some ambition.
    • 53' How about this? Partizan have equalised against Arsenal at the Emirates! See how that unfolded here.
    • 52' Jadson sets off a quick Shakhtar move and feeds Costa, who cuts in onto his left foot and curls an effort which looks destined for the far corner but instead goes just wide.
    • 51' Matheus charges in from the left flank and runs the ball along the byline but, after attempting a stepover, is muscled out of possession.
    • 49' Jadson looks to play in an early cross from the left side of the box but his effort is blocked.
    • 48' Cesar hits an impatient shot from distance which goes tamely wide.
    • 47' Will either side be able to muster a clear-cut chance in this second half?
    • 46' The second half is underway.
    • 45' That brings the first 45 to a close. It's been a poor half, no doubt about that. Let's hope for better after the break.
    • 44' Pyatov strays from his line and punches a high ball unconvincingly and Aguiar tries to lob the loose ball back over the keeper's head but it's high and wide.
    • 43' A large section of the Shakhtar crowd are singing with their shirts off - rather them than me!
    • 42' Both sides are capable of moving the ball around nicely but neither seem happy to attempt something different in the final third. It's like a training game.
    • 41' Gai looks like he's beaten the offside trap on the right wing after a great pass by Rakitskiy to set off the attack but the linesman is quick to his mark and raises his flag.
    • 40' Srna goes for goal with a curling left-footed effort but it's too close to Artur and the Braga keeper comfortably catches.
    • 39' Can Shakhtar profit from the free-kick, 25 yards out just left of centre.
    • 38' Garcia catches Willian with a late sliding challenge and is shown a yellow card for his troubles.
    • 37' Braga have come a long way since their first two fixtures when the 6-0 defeat at Arsenal on their group stage debut was followed by the home defeat by Shakhtar.
    • 36' Having started with a 1-0 defeat of Partizan, Shakhtar equalled their best start to a UEFA Champions League campaign with the victory at Braga. After clean sheets in their opening two games it was something of a surprise when Mircea Lucescu's team then conceded five goals away to Arsenal, responding only with Eduardo's late effort on his return to his former club.
    • 35' The Ukrainian champions have done better in Champions League away games, winning at SL Benfica and Boavista FC in advance of this season's 3-0 victory in Braga. At home they lost to Sporting Clube de Portugal in 2008/09 and Benfica the previous season, both in the UEFA Champions League group stage and both 1-0, while the visits of Boavista and FC Porto ended in 1-1 draws.
    • 34' There's still little action at the Donbass Arena, with neither side seemingly willing to muster a worthwhile tackle. Possession is being loosely given away in the centre of the park.
    • 32' Shakhtar won Ukraine's top flight for the fifth time in eight years.
    • 31' Braga finished runners-up in the Portuguese league last season to earn Champions League qualification.
    • 30' At the Emirates still... the Dutchman picks himself up fires an unstoppable penalty home to give Arsenal the lead and give Braga an almighty mountain to climb.
    • 29' Big news from the Emirates! van Persie is fouled in the box and Arsenal have a penalty.
    • 28' Garcia clears to give Shakhtar a corner.
    • 27' As it stands, Braga are just one goal from sitting in second place. That, of course, can change so quickly though.
    • 26' Stepanenko does well to beat his man on the right before slipping a through-ball down the channel to Adriano but Rodriguez is on hand to stand strong and bounce the Shakhtar man off the ball.
    • 25' Shakhtar have enjoyed 58 per cent of the lion's share thus far, with Braga content to play on the counter-attack.
    • 24' Artur charges off his line but then hesitates and nearly lets Adriano in but the Braga keeper recovers to smother.
    • 23' Here's a stat for you. Shakhtar have won 48 of there last 52 games at the Donbass Arena. The other four matches were draws.
    • 22' Adriano, shooting from 16 yards, really should have done better there and at least got his effort on target.
    • 21' First real chance of the match! Costa takes advantage of a slip in the Braga defence and cuts back to Adriano, who blazes his first-time shot well over the bar!
    • 20' Costa looks to dance past his man but is stopped in his track. He looks full of tricks, though.
    • 19' It's been an odd opening 19 minutes in Ukraine, with both sides taking it very cautiously. Realistically, Braga have to win tonight but it's as if they're waiting for a development in the Arsenal game.
    • 18' Silvio loses the ball and, in frustration, brings down Srna. Free-kick on the right side of Shakhtar's half.
    • 17' After bossing play for a few minutes, now it's Braga's turns to control possession, although with little menace going forward.
    • 16' Srna is fed with a lovely diagonal ball but the Shakhtar captain can't quite keep the ball in play after a poor first touch.
    • 15' It remains 0-0 between Arsenal and Partizan Belgrade at the Emirates after 15 minutes.
    • 14' Adriano leads with his arm in an aerial challenge to gift Braga a free-kick just inside their own half.
    • 13' Rat fires in a long throw but Rodriguez is on hand to clear the danger with two thumping headers.
    • 12' Matheus thinks he's won a corner after being challenged by Rakitskiy but the lino signals for a goal-kick.
    • 11' In truth, Shakhtar Donetsk have no reason to come charging out of the blocks and risk going a goal behind, but victory, and topping the group, will be at the forefront of their minds.
    • 10' It's fair to say it's been a cagey start in Ukraine, with neither team able to hold possession for a prolonged spell.
    • 9' Braga's Aguiar is also a yellow card away from suspension.
    • 8' Gai and Rat are one booking away from missing Shakhtar's last 16 tie, should the progress.
    • 7' Costa looks dangerous for the home side and cuts in from the right before seeing his shot blocked. Rat's effort suffers the same fate.
    • 6' Shakhtar build possession patiently and begin to impose themselves on Braga for the first time in the game.
    • 5' Alan wins possession 25 yards out and goes for goal with a left-footed shot but it's easily collected by Shakhtar keeper Pyatov.
    • 4' The visitors edge up the pitch but Chygrynskiy is on hand to eventually hoof clear before Shakhtar win a free-kick.
    • 3' Garcia is felled in the centre circle and the referee blows up for a Braga free-kick.
    • 2' Shakhtar are in their traditional orange and black stripes, while Braga are in their white and red away strip.
    • 1' And we're off! Shakhtar get the game underway.
    • 19:40 The 51,504 capacity Donbass Arena is looking superb this evening. A magnificent stadium. The teams are in the tunnel - we're nearly ready to go!
    • 19:35 Last night saw groups A, B, C and D decided, with Spurs, Inter, Schalke, Lyon, Man Utd, Valencia, Barcelona and FC Copenhagen all progressing to the last 16.
    • 19:30 The corresponding fixture was the first time Braga had crossed paths with a team from Ukraine while Shakhtar – who are in their sixth UEFA Champions League campaign and hoping to advance from the group stage for the first time – have played four European games at home to Portuguese visitors and are still to win.
    • 19:25 The teams are in:
    • - Shakhtar Donetsk: Pyatov, Srna, Chygrynskiy, Rakitskiy, Rat, Gai, Stepanenko, Douglas Costa, Jadson, Willian, Luiz Adriano /// Subs: Khudzamov, Hubschman, Kucher, Kobin, Mkhitaryan, Alex Teixeira, Ischenko
    • - Braga: Artur Moraes, Miguel Garcia, Anibal, Rodriguez, Silvio, Vandinho, Leandro Salino, Alan, Aguiar, Paulo Cesar, Matheus /// Subs: Felipe, Mossoro, Helder Barbosa, Leo Fortunato, Lima, Madrid, Hugo Viana
    • - Referee: Felix Brych (Germany)
    • 19:20 Shakhtar came out on top in the corresponding fixture on September 28. Two second half strikes by Luiz Adriano and a late Douglas Costa spot-kick gave Mircea Lucescu's side maximum points from two games.
    • 19:15 Want to keep an eye on Arsenal's tie too? Arsenal v Partizan: LIVE
    • 19:10 For a look at all the qualification scenarios from across the groups, head this way.
    • 19:05 Arsenal are certain to qualify if they win and would only be eliminated if Braga gain more points in their last game than they do. Partizan are, of course, eliminated.
    • 19:00 Shakhtar would only fail to qualify if they lost by four goals at home to Braga and if Arsenal beat Partizan.
    • 18:55 Arsenal, who faces bottom-placed Partizan Belgrade at the Emirates, and Braga are then tied on nine points. Arsenal are second, however, courtesy of a +9 goal difference, whereas Braga's is -4. Partizan, by the way, have lost all five of their matches thus far.
    • 18:50 Group H is delicately poised going into this final night of action. Hosts Shakhtar are top of the table on 12 points, having won four and lost one.
    • 18:45 Welcome to our LIVE coverage of Shakhtar Dontesk v Sporting Braga - kick-off is at 7.45pm UK time, we'll have all the latest team news and build-up from an hour beforehand.

  • Summary

    • 83' GOAL! Adriano makes it 2-0! Rat fires in a low cross from the left side of the box and Adriano makes no mistake in side-footing the ball into an open net.
    • 79' A deep lofted cross evades everyone but sits up for Rat on the edge of the box and the Romanian hammers a perfectly-placed shot past Artur.
    • 78' GOAL! Shakhtar take the lead! The hosts finally have the breakthrough.
    • 52' Jadson sets off a quick Shakhtar move and feeds Costa, who cuts in onto his left foot and curls an effort which looks destined for the far corner but instead goes just wide.
    • 24' Artur charges off his line but then hesitates and nearly lets Adriano in but the Braga keeper recovers to smother.
    • 21' First real chance of the match! Costa takes advantage of a slip in the Braga defence and cuts back to Adriano, who blazes his first-time shot well over the bar!

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Shakhtar Donetsk

    Manager: Mircea Lucescu

  • Sporting Braga

    Manager: Domingos

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

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