Shakhtar Donetsk suffers penalty shootout defeat and exits European competitions

Chas Pravdy - 15 August 2025 00:44

In the decisive match of the third qualifying round of the Europa League, the Donetsk football club Shakhtar failed to overcome the Greek team Panathinaikos in Krakow, Poland.

Despite significant squad issues and a limited number of players, the team endeavored to exert maximum effort to advance to the next stage of European tournaments.

The substantial personnel challenges included injuries preventing key players like Kryskiv, Traore, Eugenaldo, Kevin, Pedrinho from participating, while Sudaikov missed the match due to the death of his father, impacting morale.The first half was characterized by the Greek side’s compact defensive setup, tightly closing the gaps and minimizing attacking opportunities for Shakhtar.

The Ukrainian team attempted methodical breakthroughs but with limited success.

In the second half, the game opened up more; Shakhtar became more aggressive in attack, creating initial scoring chances.

Meanwhile, Panathinaikos periodically launched dangerous counterattacks, heightening tension on the pitch.The match took a significant turn in the 82nd minute when Oleksandr Ocheretko received a second yellow card, leading to his expulsion and an emotional reaction from both player and manager Arda Turan.

Despite being in the minority, Shakhtar managed to create several promising moments: Newton hit the post, and Alisson’s near goal attempt narrowly missed the target.

Neither team was able to score in extra time, leading to a penalty shootout.In the shootout, luck favored the Greeks as Shakhtar missed three penalties—by Nazaryna, Elias, and Pedro Enrique—while Panathinaikos successfully converted their attempts, winning 4-3 after a scoreless draw in regular and extra time.

This result meant that Shakhtar was eliminated and now will compete in the Europa Conference League, where they will face Swiss club Servette in the playoff round.Earlier reports mentioned Polissya’s victory over a Hungarian team and their upcoming match against Fiorentina in the Conference League qualifiers.

Additionally, Dynamo Kyiv faced a second consecutive defeat against Paphos, ending their journey in the Champions League qualifiers.

Source

#Sport