On 4 October, one of the Champions League matches took place. Antwerp (Belgium) and Shakhtar Donetsk met.
Антверпен - Шахтер - 2:3. Лига чемпионов. Обзор матча, статистикаChampions League
Antwerp (Belgium) vs Shakhtar Donetsk - 2:3 (2:0)
Goals: A. Muja (3), M. Balikwisha (33) - Sikan (48), Y. Rakitskyi (71), Sikan (76)
Warnings: M. Keita (12), Juhim Konoplya (36), Vincent Janssen (37), Y. Rakitskyi (66), Sikan (82), T. Alderweireld (90+1)
Antwerp vs Shakhtar:
In a thrilling UEFA Champions League encounter, Shakhtar Donetsk beat Antwerp In a thrilling UEFA Champions League encounter, a real rollercoaster of emotions awaited the fans at the Bosuilstadion. Both teams were looking to pick up important points in the group stage, and the match did not disappoint. Despite an early lead for the home side, it was the visitors who ended up with a thrilling victory. The first half started well for Antwerp as they took the lead just three minutes into the game. Albanian striker A. Muja put a shot into the net, energising the crowd and setting the tone for an exciting match. On 33 minutes, M. Balikvisha scored another goal, increasing Antwerp's lead to 2-0. However, Shakhtar Donetsk were not going to give up without a fight. On 48 minutes, D. Sikan scored, giving the Ukrainian team a glimmer of hope. This goal gave Shakhtar new vigour, and they began to dominate the second half. The hero of the evening was Yuriy Rakitskiy, who scored twice, completing Shakhtar's stunning comeback goal. In the 71st minute, he hit the net, levelling the score at 2-2. The visitors continued to press, and just five minutes later Rakitskiy struck again, putting Shakhtar ahead for the first time in the match. Antwerp tried desperately to get back into the game, but it was Shakhtar's day. On 76 minutes, D. Sikan scored his second goal of the evening, sealing the Ukrainian team's victory.
Sikan's performance was simply magnificent, and he rightfully deserved the title of the best player of the match. Close to the final, both teams made several substitutions in an attempt to achieve success. J. Eckelenkamp and A. Valencia came on for Antwerp, hoping for a late breakthrough. However, Shakhtar Donetsk demonstrated their depth and quality of play by bringing on M. Shved instead of D. Sikan in the 87th minute and secured their advantage until the final whistle. The match was not without cards and missed opportunities. M. Keita, V. Janssen, Y. Konoplya, Y. Rakitskiy, D. Sikan and T. Alderweireld received yellow cards in both teams. Unfortunately, in the last minutes of the game Antwerp missed a penalty, which was not realised by T. Alderweireld. Despite Antwerp's efforts in the first half, it was Shakhtar Donetsk's resilience and determination that brought victory. The Ukrainian team demonstrated their skill and ability to bounce back from defeat with a memorable 3-2 victory. After the final whistle, Shakhtar celebrated their comeback, while Antwerp were left regretting their missed opportunities. This match will go down in UEFA Champions League history as a thrilling display of football talent, reminding us of the unpredictable nature of the beautiful game. Both teams can learn valuable lessons from this encounter, and fans look forward to more exciting encounters in the competition.
The following matches await the opponents in the next round: Antwerp vs Porto, Barcelona vs Shakhtar.
Антверпен - Шахтер - 2:3. Лига чемпионов. Обзор матча, статистикаStatistics of the match Antwerp - Shakhtar:
| Antwerp | Shakhtar | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Strokes to the goal | 7 |
| 11 | Blows | 16 |
| 0 | Blocked shots | 4 |
| 4 | Penalty kicks | 10 |
| 7 | Kicks from outside the penalty box | 6 |
| 7 | Offences | 6 |
| 2 | Corner | 4 |
| 3 | Offsides | 1 |
| 53% | Ball possession | 47% |
| 3 | Yellow cards | 3 |
| 0 | Red cards | 0 |
| 3 | Keeper saves | 4 |
| 510 | Total assists | 458 |
| 435 | Accurate assists | 380 |
| 85% | Transmission accuracy | 83% |
