We retain the theoretical possibilities. Zarya defeated AEK in the most

Three defeats in the previous three rounds with a goal difference of 2-9, this, of course, is not the result that the Luhansk team expected at the start of the tournament. Therefore, for the Zorya players, the Athens match became the last chance to retain at least theoretical chances of qualifying from the group. Furthermore, even a draw by the current bronze medalist of the Ukrainian championship with the victory of Braga in a parallel match with Leicester put a barrier in front of our club to these hopes.

The home team, which included two Ukrainians Dmitry Chygrynskiy and Yevgeniy Shakhov, started the match quite actively and already in the first minutes made several dangerous attacks. Particularly memorable was Croatian legionnaire Mark Livaya’s right-footed shot in the 3rd minute, but the ball flew very close to the post.

After repelling the initial attack from the Greek team, the guests became bolder to attack. But for a long time they did not reach the final blow to the opposing goal. And only in the 28th minute, Andrei Tsyganiks, along an intricate trajectory, fired into the far corner, but missed. Once again, the same footballer from Zorya made a good shot in the 41st minute, but here the ball also flew by.

This, perhaps, is all the first half was remembered for. There was a lot of fighting, emotions, violations of the rules, however, the game basically took place between two penalty areas and practically without scoring chances.

But just after the break in the 47th minute, Zorya’s prolonged attack nearly led to a goal. It was Vladlen Yurchenko, some twenty meters away, who hit the left corner of the goal, but missed quite a bit. And a minute later, “AEK” was in the minority. The second yellow card of the match for Dmitry Ivaniseni’s elbow to the face was received by Evgeny Shakhov and immediately turned red for him.

Interestingly, having one less player, the Greeks could have opened an account in the 52nd minute, if it weren’t for “Zorya” goalkeeper Nikita Shevchenko. He caught a very strong and dangerous blow from Muamer Tankovich in a brilliant jump. And then the Ukrainians scored in the 61st minute. The scoring attack originated from the left wing, from where, almost from the corner flag, Andrei Tsyganiks made a pass into the goalkeeper’s box. First on the ball was Greeks goalkeeper Georgios Athanasiadis, but he couldn’t keep the round in his hands and dropped it at the feet of Artem Gromov. He made full use of this “gift” and threw the ball into the empty net.

The local team had opportunities to recover. Furthermore, in the 67th minute it almost happened under curious circumstances. Apparently Efstratios Swarnas from the right wing was hitting randomly, but the ball flew high and sank directly into the post. At the same time, Nikita Shevchenko was just looking at what was happening. And happiness for Zorya because none of the rivals was prepared for such a rebound.

And then the guests achieved success a second time. Vladislav Kabaev demonstrated his individual skill and his ability to shoot accurately from close to the penalty area. In the 75th minute, he received a pass from Dmitry Ivaniseni and, having worked the ball a bit under his left foot, landed a hard hit in the far lower corner.

In the 86th minute Vladlen Yurchenko ended this match from the penalty spot. He clearly implemented the penalty spot for breaking the rules against Maxim Lunev, who just minutes earlier entered as a substitute.

This is how Zorya convincingly took revenge on Greek AEK for the defeat in Zaporozhye. So the fight to leave the group on the charges of Viktor Skripnik is not over yet.

European League. Group G. 4th round.

“AEK” – “Dawn” – 0: 3

Artem Gromov (61), Vladislav Kabaev (75), Vladlen Yurchenko (86, penalty)

Evgeny Shakhov (43), Muamer Tankovich (49), Andre Simoes (55), Efstratios Svarnas (70) – Vitaly Vernidub (49), Vladislav Kochergin (73)

Evgeny Shakhov (two yellow cards)

AEK: Georgios Athanasiadis – Yonuts Nedelčiaru, Dmitry Chygrinsky, Efstratios Svarnas (Stavros Vasilantonopulos, 82), Emanuel Insua, Michalis Bakakis (Konstantinos Galanopulos, 65) – Andre Simoesh (Theodosis Macheras, 87), Evgeny Krusa, 66).

Zarya: Nikita Shevchenko – Yoel Abu Khanna, Vitaly Vernidub, Denis Favorov, Dmitry Ivanisenya – Andrey Tsyganiks, Vladlen Yurchenko (Mikhailo Perovich, 87), Vladislav Kochergin (Maxim Lunev, 82), Artem Gromov (Allahyar Sayyadmanesh, 87) – Alexander Gladky Nazarina 63), Vladislav Kabaev (Sergey Grin, 87).

Stadium: “Spyros Luis” (Athens, Greece).

Referee: Aliyar Agayev (Baku, Azerbaijan)

AEK – DAWN. SPREAD OF MATCH TEXT