Shakhtar Donetsk secured a hard-fought victory over FC Livyi Bereg, winning 1-0 on February 24, 2024, at the Arena Lviv as part of the 18th round of the Ukrainian Premier League (UPL). The only goal of the match came from Mar'yian Shved, who found the net in the second half, precisely at the 61-minute mark.
This match was significant for Shakhtar as they continue their pursuit of the top spot against fierce competition from Dynamo Kyiv and Oleksandriya. Following this victory, Shakhtar remains third on the league table with 36 points, holding one match in hand and trailing Oleksandriya by five points and Dynamo by ten.
FC Livyi Bereg, on the other hand, is fighting to avoid relegation. With this loss, they remain 14th on the table, with only 16 points. Every match is pivotal for them as they strive to climb out of the relegation zone.
Shakhtar entered the match under pressure to secure points and maintain their championship ambitions. Despite some key absences, including their captain, Georgiy Sudaков, who was injured and not included, Shakhtar began strongly. They created several chances, yet the first half ended without goals as both teams showed determination.
On the flip side, Livyi Bereg put up stubborn resistance. They had moments of promise, particularly when Danylo Sukhoruchko broke through Shakhtar’s defense only to miss the shot. With the first half concluding at 0-0, both teams were still searching for the breakthrough needed.
The second half saw Shakhtar intensify their efforts, maintaining pressure on the Livyi Bereg defense. The breakthrough finally came when Shved, showcasing alertness and positioning, took advantage of defensive hesitance to score. His header reflected Shakhtar's dominance, even if the goal had its elements of fortune.
Immediately following the goal, Shakhtar's highly touted young attacker, Elias, came onto the field, bringing chatter of excitement among the fans. Just minutes after joining the action, Elias nearly doubled the lead but was thwarted by the impressive reactions of FC Livyi Bereg's goalkeeper, Eduard Mekhaniv, who made remarkable saves, even hitting the post later to deny him again.
While Shakhtar continued to press, making various attempts to extend their lead, FC Livyi Bereg struggled to generate meaningful chances, effectively kept at bay by Shakhtar's solid defense. There were few moments of danger for the home team, as Livyi Bereg's attempts at creating offensive opportunities faltered.
After the match, Shakhtar's head coach reflected on the team's performance, recognizing the need to build momentum as they face rivals like Oleksandriya next. "We controlled the game but didn’t capitalize on our chances as much as we would like," he noted, expressing hope for future matches.
Meanwhile, FC Livyi Bereg will regroup to face Chornomorets next, as they aim to escape the dreaded relegation zone. Manager's remarks emphasized their need to refine their finishing touches and seize scoring chances when they arise.
The clash served as yet another reminder of the intense competition within the UPL, which continues to captivate fans with closely contested matches. For Shakhtar, this victory reaffirms their aspirations, but challenges lie ahead as they aim to close the gap on the league leaders. With the season still young and battles for position intensifying, every point gained or lost becomes increasingly significant.