Shakhtar in strong position
Tuesday 31 July 2007
by Khachik Chakhoyan

Goals either side of half-time from Oleksandr Gladkiy
and Brandão enabled FC Shakhtar Donetsk to take a
major step towards the UEFA Champions League third
qualifying round.

Solo run
A constant thorn in FC Pyunik’s side, new signing
Gladkiy was worthy of his opening goal in Armenia and
could have even broken the deadlock before his
45th-minute strike. The 19-year-old forward eluded his
markers by embarking on a mesmerising solo run before
racing into the penalty area to force a reaction save
out of goalkeeper Gevorg Kasparov. Although the
rebound fell kindly for Jadson Rodriguez, the
midfielder was unable to convert the chance.

Opening goal
Pyunik lost the excellent Kasparov when he was injured
in an aerial challenge with Brandão three minutes
before half-time and before the break his replacement
Ignacio Javier Bordad Lopez was already picking the
ball out of the net after Gladkiy pounced on a
defensive error to score from close range. It was to
prove a debut to forget for the Uruguayan, who was
beaten again soon after the interval.

Follow-up
Perhaps sensing the nervousness of the substitute,
Jadson caught Bordad Lopez off guard with a powerful
shot from long distance which the goalkeeper could
only parry into the path of Brandão, who made no
mistake with the follow-up. Shakhtar, bidding to reach
the group stage for the second year running and the
third time in four years, welcome the Armenian
champions to Ukraine next Wednesday for the return leg
of this second qualifying round tie.