Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Napoli - 13 September 2017

Minute		Description
90' +3		Well into stoppage time now and should be a case of job done for Shakhtar...
90' +2		D. Khocholava enters the game and replaces I. Ordets.
90' +2		Ordets is struggling with cramp so Shakhtar take no risks and Davit Khotcholava is introduced into the game.
90' +1		Insigne's latest shot sums up Napoli's night as they get into a good position before curling the ball into the stands. Just not good enough unfortunately this evening.
88'		Dentinho enters the game and replaces F. Ferreyra.
88'		Substitution for Shakhtar as Ferreyra is given a round of applause and replaced by Dentinho.
87'		Callejon collects Amadou Diawara's beautiful through ball and volleys towards goal but Pyatov gets down low to block his effort.
86'		Insigne tries to slip in Callejon and he looks destined to do so for a one-on-one chance but Ismaily comes out of nowhere to clear the danger. At the other end Shakhtar try their luck with a powerful shot from the edge of the box but Bernard cannot connect cleanly and Reina saves.
84'		Milik is given the chance to score his second of the night but he cannot stay calm when under pressure. The striker brings the ball down in the box but hammers it over from a tight angle.
83'		HUGE chance for Shakhtar as two players go close but they remain 2-1 up. Ferreyra climbs highest from a corner to head onto the post before Kovalenko cannot tap home from the follow up.
82'		K. Koulibaly gets yellow.
82'		Kalidou Koulibaly is given a yellow card for persistent fouls, this time be brings down Kovalenko.
79'		Napoli are still dictating the tempo in the second-half but they cannot find an equaliser just yet. Insigne tries his luck with a teasing run inside the box but his shot is blocked and cleared away.

Minute		Description
77'		V. Kovalenko enters the game and replaces Marlos.
77'		Marlos is given an early night by manager Paulo Fonseca and he is replaced by Viktor Kovalenko.
76'		It is no surprise but Mertens has made a massive difference so far and his pace is causing chaos out there for the Shakhtar defence.
71'		Penalty goal scored by A. Milik for Napoli!
		T. Stepanenko gets yellow.
		Taras Stepanenko is shown a card after clattering into Mertens and giving the penalty away.
		GOAAALLL NAPOLI - Shakhtar 2-1 Napoli - Milik steps up with Mertens receiving treatment and he slots the ball into the bottom corner.
70'		PENALTY NAPOLI
69'		D. Mertens gets yellow.
69'		Yellow card Dries Mertens
68'		L. Insigne gets yellow.
		Fred gets yellow.
		Insigne is also shown a card after getting involved in the disagreement.
		Yellow card for Frederico Rodrigues Santos after his involvement in some handbags on the pitch.
67'		Allan enters the game and replaces P. Zieliński.
67'		Midfielder Piotr Zieliński is eventually brought off after a disappointing display, with Allan his replacement.
63'		Latest score from the other game in Group F...Feyenoord 0-4 Manchester City.
61'		Dries Mertens nearly makes an immediate impact off the bench as Ghoulam finds him lurking on the edge of the box but the Belgium international shoots straight at Pyatov.
60'		D. Mertens enters the game and replaces M. Hamšík.
		Insigne tries to do all the work himself and nearly finds some success as he curls the ball to the top corner but he doesn't strike it cleanly and his effort is saved.
		Napoli captain Hamšík has had a quiet night and he is now replaced by Dries Mertens.
58'		F. Ferreyra has scored a goal for Shakhtar Donetsk! Assist by T. Stepanenko.
		Callejon responds immediately for the visitors but his cross come shot cannot find the top left-hand corner.
		Stepanenko grabs the assist after a sensational cross from the left-wing.
		GOAAALLL SHAKHTAR 2-0 Napoli - Ferreyra is the hero as he heads home at the back post. A ball from the left is not dealt with by Napoli and Ferreyra heads into the ground and in the net.
57'		Shakhtar work the ball forward and Ferreyra is allowed time to shoot but the striker leans back and curls it over.
53'		Napoli have tried to dictate the play more so far in this second-half but again the tempo from them on the ball isn't good enough so far. Plenty of time for that to change of course.
49'		Chance for Marek Hamsik at the start of the second-half as Callejon tries to pick him out with a cross but the Napoli captain requires treatment as he collides heads with Srna after firing over.
46'		Back underway in this Group F clash.
43'		Another close shave for Napoli as Marlos is given far too much time and space on the edge of the box and he picks his spot. However, the ball is blocked and somehow Napoli bring the ball away from danger.
40'		Napoli winger Insigne bursts onto a loose pass and plays in Milik but as his shot is saved the flag goes up for offside.
37'		Nervous moment for Shakhtar defender Ivan Ordets as he runs back to his own box but his clearance from a cross goes towards his own goal and misses the far post by inches. Napoli get the corner but it's another poor one and we remain at 1-0.
35'		Insigne cushions the ball in front of left-back Faouzi Ghoulam and he goes down in the box but referee Felix Zwayer of Germany is unfazed and awards the goal-kick.
34'		Napoli are awarded a free-kick after a handball in the middle of the park and that gives Lorenzo Insigne the chance to let fly. The winger picks his spot but there's a lack of power and Pyatov slides to his left to catch the ball.
31'		For the first time in a while, the pace has dropped at the OSK Metalist Stadion and that may give Napoli a chance to come back into the game.
29'		CHANCE Napoli - The visitors win a corner and the ball is fired to the back post where Raul Albiol is too strong for his marker but the former Real Madrid man heads it over the bar. So close to being 1-1.
27'		Nervous moment for Shakhtar at the back as Milik outmuscles Yaroslav Rakitskiy inside the box but he cannot take the ball around goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov and the score remains 1-0 to the home side.
26'		Manchester City are now three-nil up against Feyenoord, they will go top of Group F as things stand.
22'		Back-to-back corners for Napoli come to nothing with the second one ending due to a foul in the box. There's plenty of time left in this one but it's a slow start from the visitors.
20'		Taison nearly scores his second goal of the night after being played in through the middle but the playmaker cannot lift the ball over Reina and the former Liverpool man makes the save.
19'		Just a little update from the other game in this group - Feyenoord 0-2 Manchester City.
15'		Taison has scored a goal for Shakhtar Donetsk!
		The home crowd go wild as Shakhtar work the ball down the left-hand side to Ismaily but his cross cannot find another black and orange shirt and the chance goes begging.
		GOAAAALLLL SHAKHTAR 1-0 Napoli - Taison is the man of the moment after he keeps his cool on the edge of the box. The home side work it down the right and after Napoli fail to clear Taison is on hand to slot the ball into the bottom corner past goalkeeper Pepe Reina.
13'		Still early stages in Ukraine but both teams are trying to come forward and create chances but the fast pace of the game is playing into Shahtar's hands so far.
11'		Early free-kick for Shakhtar as Kalidou Koulibaly brings down his man but the home side waste the opportunity and can only concede a goal-kick. They'll need to do much better than that from set-pieces.
8'		Another opportunity to take the lead passes by for Shakhtar as Darijo Srna's cross goes to waste. The right-back swings the ball in from the right but striker Facundo Ferreyra does not react and Napoli clear.
5'		Milik also tries his luck from the edge of the box but the Poland international sees his strike fly wide of the far post. End-to-end action so far in this Champions League clash.
4'		Now Shakhtar respond with Taison driving through the middle but his right-footed shot goes wide of the target but it certainly got the home fans excited.
3'		Feyenoord and Manchester City are also in Group F of course and the Citizens have made a big impression by scoring already in the Netherlands.
2'		Early half chance for Napoli as a long ball into the box for Jose Callejon goes unchallenged but the winger cannot control the cross and a goal-kick is given.
1'		We are underway as Shakhtar Donetsk kick us off!
		Good evening and welcome along to our live text commentary of Shakhtar Donetsk vs Napoli from Group F of the Champions League.
		Tonight's game promises to be exciting with both teams in fine form of late and ready to lay down a marker. Shakhtar come into the game top of the Ukrainian Premier League, while Napoli are second in the Serie A table.
		Team news coming up...
		Shakhtar Starting XI (4-4-1-1): Pyatov, Srna (C), Ordets, Rakitskiy, Ismaily, Marlos, Fred, Stepanenko, Bernard, Taison, Ferreyra
		Shaktar SUBS: Shevchenko, Butko, Khocholava, Dentinho, Patrick, Azevedo, Kovalenko
		Napoli Starting XI (4-3-3): Reina, Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Ghoulam, Zielinski, Diawara, Hamsik (C), Callejon, Milik, Insigne
		Napoli SUBS: Sepe, Allan, Jorginho, Maggio, Mertens, Maksimovic, Rog
		The eye-catching news tonight then is that Dries Mertens starts the game on the bench for Napoli, with boss Maurizio Sarri deciding to rest his star asset. Shaktar have named a strong starting XI for the first game of Group F and Sarri will be hoping Mertens is not needed this evening.
		Not long to go until kick-off then for this 7.45pm clash from Group F. The fans are ready in their seats, just the players needed for this tie.
		Kick-off just minutes away now as the players enter the field of play.
		The beautiful sound of the Champions League anthem rings around the OSK Metalist Stadion and we could well be in for a treat this evening. Let's hope for a cracker!
		We might be a minute or so behind in this one - Arkadiusz Milik needs to change his boots despite not kicking a ball. How bizarre!
		Shakhtar have won their last six matches in the league and scored 14 goals in the process so they will be dangerous tonight on home soil at the OSK Metalist Stadion. As for Napoli, they've won their last five competitive matches and their fast-flowing style should bring out the best in both teams.
		HALF-TIME Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 Napoli.
		Taison's goal is the difference so far and he could have had two but the home side deservedly lead at the break. Napoli have probed and tried in parts but they're simply not crisp enough with the ball at their feet.
		Shakhtar have controlled the tempo for the majoirty of the first-half and Napoli may need to introduce Dries Mertens in the first 15 minutes of the second-half.
		FULL TIME - Shakhtar 2-1 Napoli.
		What a night for Shakhtar as they win their opening Group F game from the Champions League. Goals from Taison and Ferreyra are enough in the end as Milik's penalty proved to just be a consolation goal.
		That is all for tonight folks, thanks again for joining us. Goodnight!
		There's no doubt that travelling to the Ukraine makes things harder but the decision to rest Mertens may be crucial in the rest of this group. Napoli must now respond in the league and in their next Champions League clash but they have enough quality to overcome Feyenoord and Manchester City.

More…

#	Team	MP	D	P
1	Shakhtar Donetsk	24	+31	58
2	Dinamo Kiev	24	+33	54
3	Kryvbas KR	25	+19	51
4	Dnipro-1	25	+12	45
5	Rukh Vynnyky	25	+10	41

#	Team	MP	D	P
6	Atalanta	32	+22	54
7	Lazio	33	+7	52
8	Napoli	33	+9	49
9	Fiorentina	32	+9	47
10	Torino	33	+2	46

Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Napoli 2 - 1

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