Clinical Shakhtar claim CSKA Scalp

Shakhtar 2 - 0 CSKA Moskva

Second-half goals from Fernandinho and Luiz Adriano booked FC Shakhtar Donetsk's place in Friday's quarter-final draw, the Ukrainian side overcoming a first-leg deficit to shock 2005 UEFA Cup winners PFC CSKA Moskva.

Impressive turnaround
Much of the talk before the game centred on CSKA striker Vágner Love, whose successful spot-kick in last week's 1-0 first-leg victory took him to eleven goals for the campaign. Yet, having withstood a fair amount of pressure before the interval, Shakhtar started to replace graft with craft after the restart and within nine minutes they had their reward as Pavel Mamaev brought down Fernandinho in the penalty area. The Brazilian duly converted from the spot, setting the scene for compatriot Luiz Adriano to seal an impressive turnaround with 20 minutes remaining.

Advertisement - article continues below »
MoneyAisle Offers GREAT CD & Savings Rates from FDIC Insured Banks - CLICK HERE NOW for a GREAT Deal.

CSKA threaten
The relative ease with which the hosts ended the match in Donetsk was in marked contrast to the opening stages as the visitors began brightly, with Alan Dzagoev's curling shot forcing a good early save from Andriy Pyatov. The onus to score, of course, was on Shakhtar and Olexandr Gladkiy was rising to the challenge, heading over the bar before sending in another effort that forced Igor Akinfeev into action. Jadson also threatened but the first half concluded as it had started, with CSKA on the attack and Sergei Ignashevich fired a free-kick wide.

Shakhtar pressure
Fernandinho's penalty, lashed into the bottom left corner, finally wrested the initiative away from CSKA and, after Jadson had squandered another chance, the Shakhtar No7 was instrumental in what proved to be the winner. Cutting in from the left flank, Fernandinho's cross looped high into the air off a defender's leg and, under pressure from Olexandr Kucher, Akinfeev could only clear as far as Luiz Adriano, who side-footed in. Still the home side attacked with Darijo Srna twice threatening from free-kicks and Mariusz Lewandowski sending a close-range effort over but it mattered not as Shakhtar joined FC Dynamo Kyiv in the last eight. Before Thursday, no other Ukrainian side had reached the UEFA Cup quarter-finals.

( UEFA )