Shakhtar Donetsk achieved a decisive 3-0 win against Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League quarterfinal match. The Ukrainian team advanced to this stage after defeating Poland’s Lech in a two-legged tie, while AZ progressed by overcoming Czech club Slavia Prague.
The two teams last faced each other in official competition in 2005 during the UEFA Cup playoffs, where AZ emerged victorious over Shakhtar.
Match Highlights
- The match began on a troubling note for Shakhtar when 19-year-old midfielder Izaki Silva suffered a head injury in a challenge with an AZ player, rendering him unconscious. Medical staff managed to revive him, but he was substituted in the 24th minute for Artem Bondarenko.
- Despite a scoreless first half, Shakhtar broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute when Pedrinho struck a stunning long-range shot into the net, making it 1-0.
- Brazilian forward Alisson then took center stage, scoring two goals within two minutes. He first netted from a corner kick rebound and followed up with another goal from the same position, sealing the match at 3-0.
Match Summary
Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) — AZ Alkmaar (Netherlands) — 3:0
Goals: Pedrinho, 72; Alisson, 81, 83
This victory marks Shakhtar’s largest margin of victory in the Conference League this season, surpassing their previous wins by two goals. The last time they won by a larger margin in European competitions was during the early qualifying rounds of the UEFA Europa League, where they triumphed 6-0 against Finland’s Ilves.
The return leg against AZ is scheduled for Thursday, April 16, at 19:45 Kyiv time. The winner will face either Fiorentina or Crystal Palace in the semifinals.
Shakhtar Donetsk's emphatic 3-0 victory over AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of the Conference League quarterfinals positions them strongly for the return match. The team's performance was highlighted by key contributions from Pedrinho and Alisson, setting a promising tone for their European campaign.