SHAKHTAR IN STRONG POSITION
by Khachik Chakhoyan from Yerevan

UEFA, Switzerland
July 31 2007

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 within minutes his replacement Ignacio Javier Bordad Lopez was
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. 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.

–Boundary_(ID_vjdkK8C6eDV++LBaURCncQ) —