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SHAKHTAR DONETSK have beaten AEK Athens 3-1 to claim their first win in the Champions League this season.
The Ukrainian giants, who will be playing their European home games at Chelsea‘s Stamford Bridge, fell behind after Lovro Majer’s opener.
But Pedrinho’s penalty equalised six minutes later before two late goals from Vinicius Tobias and Gleiker Mendoza sealed the win.
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It’s full-time at Stamford Bridge as Shakhtar Donetsk claim a 3-1 win over AEK Athens, securing their first victory of this Champions League campaign.
The Ukrainian side had to overturn a deficit to take the points in their first match hosted in London.
AEK took the lead in the opening half as Majer calmly slotted into the bottom corner.
Shakhtar drew level just minutes later after Santana won a penalty, which Pedrinho converted into the bottom corner.
They snatched the lead in the final 10 minutes when Tobias came inside from the right and drilled a ball across the box, turning in via a deflection off Brignoli.
The final strike was the pick of the bunch, with Mendoza drifting inside and firing a shot across goal into the top corner.
Despite the scoreline, xG was close, with Shakhtar on 1.37 and AEK on 1.10.
Shakhtar look to keep their unbeaten Champions League run going next week by travelling to Milan to face Inter, while AEK seek to bounce back when they return to England to face Manchester City.
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FULL-TIME: Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1 AEK Athens
Zubkov comes desperately close to netting against his former club, smashing an effort against the crossbar, but the flag was already up for an offside in the build-up.
At least five minutes of stoppage time will be played at the end of the second half.
YELLOW CARD!
Varga lets his frustration boil over, shoving Riznyk to the ground as he chases the ball, and goes into the book.
SUB: Shakhtar’s final switch sees Ferreira introduced for the closing moments in place of Santana.
SUB: The hosts make further changes following the third goal, with Meirelles coming on to replace Elias.
Isqaue feeds Mendoza out wide, where he puts in the hard work to drift inside and apply the finish.
GOAL!
MENDOZA MAKES IT 3-1!
It is a superb strike from the substitute, who all but seals the three points.
Isaque spots him out wide, allowing him to drift inward and carve out room to shoot.
He drills an effort across goal, sending the ball flying towards the top corner.
He has now found the net in each of Shakhtar’s Champions League matches this season.
Shakhtar are brimming with confidence, zipping the ball around quickly and leaving AEK chasing shadows as they hunt for a way back into the tie.
SUB: Marin makes way for AEK as former Shakhtar striker Zubkov comes on to face his old side.
SUB: Straight after the goal, Shakhtar shuffle their pack in midfield as Nazaryna replaces Gomes.
Assist credited to Alisson Santana Lopes da Fonseca.
GOAL!
SHAKHTAR 2-1!
The hosts take the advantage as the ball ends up in the net off Brignoli.
Moving forward with pace down the right, Santana picks out the overlapping run of Tobias.
The right-back cuts inside and drills a low ball across the face of goal, leaving Brignoli scrambling as it deflects off the Italian and into the back of the net.
SUB: AEK make another change as Varga replaces Jovic.
SUB: Another change from Marko Nikolic as Kairinen comes on to replace Vitalis.
Koita avoids a booking following a lunging challenge on Henrique, while Shakhtar comfortably keep possession across their defence.
Into the final 15 minutes and it’s still end-to-end.
Both sides are pushing for a winner, though it has been almost 20 minutes since the last effort on target.
SUB: Another change for the visitors as Gacinovic replaces Zina.
SUB: AEK make their first changes, introducing experienced midfielder Joao Mario to replace goalscorer Majer.
Jeers echo from the visiting AEK fans as Shakhtar comfortably knock it around in the opposition half.
They search for a way through, but AEK show no let-up.
Both sides have squandered major chances to break the deadlock, leaving the match delicately poised.
Will anyone grab a winner before full time?
AEK survive a massive scare as Ocheretko squanders a golden chance to take the lead.
A corner drifts towards the midfielder at the back post with Brignoli nowhere to be seen, but he fails to find the target and heads wide.
SUB: Mendoza replaces Newerton for the second change.
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