Brest had gotten used to much better in the Champions League, so much so that this defeat against Shakhtar Donetsk seems like a surprise (2-0). The Pirates miss the opportunity to finish this phase in the Top 8 and should go through the play-offs.
A final effort was missing Brest Stadium to almost validate its place in the Top 8 in the Champions League. Facing the Shakhtara team in constant exile since 2014 and which plays its C1 matches in Gelsenkirschen, the Bretons simply missed out (2-0).
Shakhtar outclasses Brest
The first opportunity was Ukrainian. Launched on the right side, Eguinaldo centered on Marlon who was very close to succeeding in his heel behind the supporting foot but who grazed Marco Bizot’s right post (8th).
The start of the match was to Shakhtar’s advantage. Mama Baldé interrupted this domination by recovering the ball from the feet of Mykola Matvyenko in the area but Valeriy Bondar cut the cross to Ludovic Ajorque who was waiting for the offering (15th).
The Pirates wanted to get back on the ball but following a long clearance, Brendan Chardonnet poorly controlled the ball: Kevin appeared, crossed half the field before adjusting Bizot from the inside of the right (18th). This goal whetted Shakhtar’s appetite. On a free kick won on the right side, the left-handed Pedrinho tried his luck directly, without surprising Bizot who intervened with a firm hand (27th). The openings in the defense bothered the Brestois. Caught in the back, Chardonnet saw Eguinaldo escape while Bizot procrastinated to get out: the Brazilian’s little dive went just wide (31st). Enough to make Eric Roy buzz in his technical zone…
Late on all opposing ball catches, lacking impact, the Ty’Zefs were pierced by a deep pass from Sudakov to Irakli Azarovi: coming to meet him, Bizot caused a penalty. Sudakov succeeded in his Panenka, even if the Dutch goalkeeper touched the ball (37th).
Already caught at fault, Matvyenko saw Mahdi Camara intercept his restart. Ajorque on the right side centered on Hugo Magnetti who took over without control. It was powerful but too much on Dmytro Riznyk (40th).
It was too little and the 3-0 was very close. After exquisite control on the left side, Kevin slipped a small bridge to Chardonnet before facing Bizot: the Brazilian chose the individual solution and his curling shot at the far post was captured by Bizot (45th + 2nd).
-On Brest’s last possession, Ajorque attempted a pigeon wing, without hitting the target (45th+3). A summary of the first missed period for Brest.
Without spring
What the Pirates had not done in the first half, they now had to do in 45 minutes and two goals to come back. But it was Shakhtar who once again showed more desire. Upon receiving a cross from Dmytro Kryskiv, Sudakov saw his recovery from the right deflected by Bizot (51st).
Deprived of official matches since December 15, Shakhar gradually lost ground, like Eguinaldo who was slammed (54th). But despite a triple change at the hour mark, Brest was not dangerous.
We had to wait for a free kick 30 meters from Mathias Pereira Lage to wake up the Brestois (79th). But they exposed themselves to counterattacks, like an overflow from Kevin whose center was captured by Bizot (80th).
On a final rush, Lassina Traoré presented himself against Bizot, Chardonnet was able to tackle and Oleksandr Zubkov, who had recovered the ball after a duel with Pereira Lage, pushed in… Short-lived joy: the VAR contributed to the cancellation of the goal, the contact at the start of the action being considered a fault (90th + 6).
Rarely have the Ty’Zefs seemed so short of ideas. While the Ukrainians managed without much difficulty, Brest vainly chased the score and suffered this defeat without rebelling. It will take a lot more this week against Real Madrid.
