Shakhtar Donetsk's goalkeeper Olexandr Rybka was the hero as he earned his side a point from a pulsating draw against Zenit St Petersburg.
Shakhtar's Brazilian pair both get on the scoresheet in draw
Shakhtar Donetsk's goalkeeper Olexandr Rybka was the hero as he earned his side a point from a pulsating draw against Zenit St Petersburg.
Shakhtar were in front twice through strikes from Willian and Luiz Adriano but their efforts were sandwiched by a Roman Shirokov goal.
Shirokov had seen an earlier penalty saved by Rybka, but he was powerless as Viktor Faitzulin conjured the equaliser.
The home side will feel aggrieved that they did not win the game as they had the better quality chances but their point from this game keeps them second in Group G, while the Ukrainians are bottom with just two points.
Shakhtar's Douglas Costa curled an early free-kick wide before Shirokov saw his 25-yard shot tipped over by Rybka and then headed the resulting corner over.
The same player had a golden chance to open the scoring in the 10th minute when Dmitro Chygrynskiy's foul on Faitzulin gave Zenit a spot-kick, but his placed effort was saved by a diving Rybka.
Fired
Tomas Hubocan fired over for Zenit before the busy Rybka denied Danny from Shirokov's cross.
And the keeper's efforts were rewarded when his side took the lead on the quarter-hour when Jadson teed up fellow Brazilian Willian to curl home superbly from 20 yards.
Jadson himself went close before Danny twice tried his luck, Rybka parrying the second effort to safety.
Faitzulin smashed an effort against the post as the first half continued at a blistering pace, while Jadson's shot brought Zenit keeper Viacheslav Malafeev into action for the first time.
Shirokov atoned for his earlier miss with an equaliser in the 32nd minute, converting Alexander Bukharov's cross six yards out.
Restored
Douglas Costa had an effort blocked by Zenit defender Nicolas Lombaerts before Shakhtar restored their lead on the stroke of half-time, Razvan Rat crossing for Luiz Adriano to finish.
Lombaerts was again in the firing line straight from the restart when he blocked Luiz Adriano's close-range shot, and Jadson was off target twice as Shakhtar sought to kill the game off.
A route-one response saw Alexander Bukharov shoot wide, before the same player was denied by Darijo Srna's block.
Willian's effort was also blocked and, after Danny and Faitzulin went close, Zenit levelled once again when the latter brilliantly lobbed Rybka from 25 yards.
Malafeev punched away Douglas Costa's dangerous inswinging free-kick and parried Danny's effort before Chygrynskiy blocked Bukharov's overhead kick.
Rybka had one more stunning save up his sleeve, from Danny's point-blank header, with Chygrynskiy blocking Shirokov's follow-up. Faitzulin and Igor Denisov then also had efforts blocked as Shakhtar held on for a point.
| Shakhtar Donetsk |
Team Statistics |
Zenit St Petersburg |
| 2 |
Goals |
2 |
| 2 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 5 |
Shots on Target |
9 |
| 6 |
Shots off Target |
10 |
| 3 |
Blocked Shots |
4 |
| 5 |
Corners |
10 |
| 14 |
Fouls |
17 |
| 1 |
Offsides |
0 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 83.1 |
Passing Success |
78.6 |
| 24 |
Tackles |
18 |
| 83.3 |
Tackles Success |
88.9 |
| 50.8 |
Possession |
49.2 |
| 41.8 |
Territorial Advantage |
58.2 |
| 373 |
Total Passes |
345 |
| 20 |
Total Crosses |
33 |
| 129 |
Lost Balls |
148 |
| 46 |
Recoveries |
46 |
|
