Conference League. Semifinal. First match
On April 30, Donetsk's Shakhtar lost at home to London's Crystal Palace in the first semifinal match of the Conference League. The match at the Kharkiv Metalist Stadium ended with a score of 1:3 in favor of the guests.
For the Ukrainian team, the path in this tournament began in the Round of 16, where they defeated the Polish Lech (3:1 on aggregate, having lost the first match 1:2 away). In the quarterfinals, Shakhtar dealt with AZ, demolishing the opponent in the first game 3:0 and finishing the second with a draw of 2:2. The scorers in that stage were Pedrinho, Alisson, and Meireles.
How the game unfolded
The starting segment of the match against Crystal Palace did not go well for the hosts: already in the first minute, Ismaïla Sarr opened the scoring after a pass from Jean-Philippe Mateta. Shakhtar equalized only in the 47th minute — Oleg Ocheretko finished a pass from Kawan Elias. However, the Londoners quickly restored their advantage: Daichi Kamada scored in the 58th minute, and Jørgen Strand Larsen set the final score in the 84th minute.
It is worth noting that Crystal Palace started the tournament from the qualifying round, where they passed Zrinjski, and then defeated AEK in overtime. In the quarterfinals, the English were stronger than Fiorentina — 4:2 on aggregate.
- Shakhtar had not lost away for seven consecutive matches before this.
- Crystal Palace had not suffered defeats at home in their last seven games.
The return match will take place on May 7 in London.
Shakhtar — Crystal Palace 1:3 (0:1)
Goals: Ocheretko (47) — Sarr (1), Kamada (58), Larsen (84)
After the first semifinal, Shakhtar found themselves in a difficult situation: a home loss by two goals creates serious difficulties before the return match. To reach the final, the Donetsk team will need to perform a feat in London. Crystal Palace, on the other hand, has gained a significant advantage and can now count on their impressive home series. This match will be crucial for both teams in the fight for the trophy.
In the return match, Shakhtar faces a challenging task, and many fans are curious about what lineup the team will take the field with. Find out who will defend the club's colors and what changes may occur in the team in our material about Shakhtar's lineup for the semifinal of the Conference League.