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It had to happen at some point. The most confident victory of “Zorya” in the group stage of the Europa League (this season the people of Lugansk have only three victories and all with a great score). It turned out to pleasantly surprise fans with Skripnik’s team. Previously, in 2017, Vernidub’s pupils beat Atlético 1: 0 and Hertu 2: 1. If we take into account not only the matches in the group, in 2014, in the standings, the LE managed to defeat “Latchi” from Albania 3: 0, and also in 2015 “Charleroi” from Belgium – again 3: 0. And here is Zarya’s third historic defeat. This week, Dynamo and Shakhtar lost big in the Champions League, and Zorya, very unexpectedly, gained points on Ukraine’s qualifying list. Furthermore, the “black-whites” retain their theoretical possibilities of leaving the group.
From the first minutes AEK went on the offensive with great force, played the ball in front of the penalty area and the Athenians had good chances almost immediately. Already in the third minute, Livaya struck a dangerous blow, a ball flew near the crossbar and hit the net from the outside. However, “Zorya” withstood the onslaught of the hosts with dignity, deftly defended herself and tried to hold the ball to get used to the field. Little by little, something began to work for the people of Lugansk.
We can notice several passes from Tsiganiks down his left flank, followed by shots into the penalty area. Yurchenko and Gladkiy were also noticed in the attacks, Kochergin hit well, but it took a long time to create a really dangerous moment as the attacking players lacked support from the depths. Of course, first of all I had to think about defense.
During periods of the game, when the hosts were taking a break to catch their breath, Skripnik’s charges took advantage of this and carried out their combinations. In general, the first half was even, perhaps with a slight advantage of the Greek team. But this advantage was positional and tactical, in terms of moments, a conditional draw. Zorya had two good scoring opportunities. In the 29th minute, Gladkyy tapped imprecisely, and also shortly before the break, Tsyganiks beat the defender and shot just over the crossbar.
All the fun started in the second half. Immediately after the referee’s whistle, Yurchenko delivered a cold, slightly inaccurate blow, and then, in the 49th minute, Yevgeny Shakhov was sent off after Kochergin’s signal and an elbow. The judge without hesitation showed the second yellow. Interestingly, before this episode, there was only one card in the match, it was Shakhov who received it for a hard play in the first half.
It seemed that the elimination of the AEK player was not in favor of “Dawn”, the Athenians immediately carried out two very dangerous attacks. But then the Lugansk team nevertheless came together, concentrated and delivered a combination of goals. After a pass to the penalty area from Tsyganiks, the goalkeeper unsuccessfully hit the ball, actually gave it to Gromov, Artyom could only send the sphere into the empty net.
Shevchenko responded to Athanasiadis’ banal mistake with his banal mistake. Svarnas shot from a distance, he wanted to shoot the goalkeeper of the ‘white-blacks’, it seemed that the ball was going off the field and Shevchenko was in control, nobody was bothering him, he could be on the safe side. The ball hit the crossbar and bounced on the field, several players were able to hit at the same time, with great effort the Luhansk team defended at that moment.
The second goal was scored by Kabaev, the Ukrainian team took advantage of the numerical advantage, deployed the AEK defense, or rather confused it when free zones began to appear in the defense. Zarya seemed fresher and more confident. After the pass, Ivaniseni approached the center of Kabaev, breaking a turn. It was a strong and accurate blow, after which it was clear that the guests would not miss the victory.
With the score 2: 0, AEK did not attack so convincingly, and he no longer had the strength left. And “Zarya” was able to score after hitting Kochergin – a ball whistled near the frame. And in the fresh 85th minute Lunev burst into the penalty area, the defender frankly knocked him down and the referee signaled the point. Yurchenko struck in cold blood from eleven meters – 3: 0.
In the first three matches of the European Cup, the Lugansk team was unlucky, unable to show its best qualities, as if the setting of the game was written by an invisible author in favor of the rivals of the “white-blacks”. This time everything went very well for the Ukrainian club, and no one will say that this victory is not deserved. However, “Zarya” demonstrated the presence of her famous character.
European League. Fourth round
Stadium: Spyros Luis Olympic Stadium (Athens)
Chief Referee: Aliyar Agayev (Azerbaijan)
AEK (Athens, Greece) – Zarya (Lugansk, Ukraine) 0: 3
Goals: Gromov 61, Kabaev 75, Yurchenko 86 (feather)
AEC: Athanasiadis – Svarnas (Vasilantonopoulos 82), Chigrinsky, Nedelcharu – Bakakis (Galanopoulos 65), Krsticic, Shakhov, Simoes (Maheras 87), Insua – Tankovic (Ansarifard 65), left.
Zarya: Shevchenko – Favorov, Vernidub, Abu Khanna, Tsyganiks – Yurchenko (Perovich 88), Ivanisenya, Kochergin (Lunev 82) – Kabaev (Grin 88), Gromov (Sayyadmanesh 87), Gladky (Nazarina 63).
Warnings: Shakhov 43, Tankovich 49, Simoesh 55, Svarnas 70 – Vernidub 49, Kochergin 73
Suppressions: Shakhov 48
