Champions League dream passed Boadu goes up in smoke after spectacle

Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at 11:33 PM• Mart van Mourik • Last update: 23:40

Shakhtar Donetsk secured a ticket for the group stage of the Champions League at the expense of AS Monaco on Wednesday evening. After ninety minutes of football, the scoreboard indicated a 1-2 score, so that the teams were sentenced to play extra time after the 0-1 victory for the Ukrainians in the first game. An unfortunate own goal by Ruben Aguilar made the decision: 2-2. Just like last week, Myron Boadu could not count on a basic place and this time did not even come within the lines. His competitor, Wissam Ben Yedder, took care of the entire Monegasque goal production.

Trainer Niko Kovac only changed his team in one position compared to the first game: goalkeeper Alexander Nübel was preferred over Radoslaw Majecki below the bar. Shakhtar missed the match winner from a week earlier, Pedrinho. The winger, who came over from Benfica for eighteen million euros this summer, turned out not to be fit enough to take action at the last minute. Former Ajax player Lassina Traoré could count on a base place in the striker position.

Monaco was clearly determined not to leave anything to chance and they sought the attack from the first whistle. That attacking spirit was rewarded after more than fifteen minutes of play, when Ben Yedder gave his team the lead. In the first instance, goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov had a good save on Kevin Volland’s shot, but on Ben Yedder’s attempt from the rebound, the closing post had to leave the answer: 0-1.

In the 38th minute, Benoît Badiashile had an excellent opportunity to double Monaco’s lead. After a nice cross by Aleksandr Golovin, the central defender with the right fired at the goal, but the post stood in the way of a goal. A minute later it was still hit. Nübel had a long kick in the house that was controlled by Caio Henrique. The latter delivered a measured pass to Ben Yedder, who came well in front of his man and tapped in from close range: 0-2.

After more than an hour of play, the twice accurate striker had the chance to score a third goal, but his shot from within the sixteen was parried by Pyatov. Fifteen minutes before the end of regular time, Shakhtar found the crucial connection goal. After beautiful combination football, Alan Patrick had an excellent final pass on Marlos, who found the 1-2 with a slider in the bottom right corner. Shortly afterwards, Ben Yedder was taken off the field, not in favor of Boadu but of Wilson Isidor.

In the closing stages, Volland had a huge chance to win a ticket to the group stage, but the attacker had to watch as his bet was removed from the goal line after Pyatov had already passed. As a result, the teams extended. Shakhtar was the dominant party in overtime, but no real big opportunities were created. Six minutes before the final whistle, Shakhtar still managed to make the decision. In an attempt to intercept Mykhaylo Mudryk’s cross from the left, the Monaco defender worked the ball very unfortunately behind his own goalkeeper: 2-2.