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Europa League | Quarter-Finals
Apr 23, 2015 at 8.05pm UK
 
Club Brugge

1-0

Shakhov (82')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Live Commentary: Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 1-0 Club Brugge - as it happened

Relive with Sports Mole for all the action from the Europa League quarter-final clash between Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and Club Brugge.
2

Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and Club Brugge faced off in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final clash on Thursday.

The first leg ended in a goalless draw in Belgium, leaving the battle for a place in the semi-finals wide open for the clash in the Ukraine.

Both teams struggled for quality in the final third of the pitch, but Yevhen Shakhov produced a moment of magic in the 82nd minute to send Dnipro through to their first European semi-final to end Brugge's 11-match unbeaten run in the competition.

Read how all the action unfolded in our commentary below.


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Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the second leg of the Europa League quarter-final clash between Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and Club Brugge.

The tie is wide open this evening as the first leg of the contest ended in a goalless draw in Belgium. Both sides have reason for optimism and caution tonight as a single bit of brilliance or mistake could decide who goes through to the last four of the competition.

The Ukrainian side have a great incentive to reach the semi-finals as it would be their first forray into the last four of a European competition. History could beckon for Myron Markevych and his players with a victory this evening.

However, Dnipro face an extremely tough task this evening as they come up against a Brugge side that have not lost a match in the competition this season. A run that stretches for 11 games and included seven victories in their march to the last eight.

Dnipro come into the match in excellent form as they have lost just once in their last 19 matches in all competitions. The one defeat came in the Europa League as they lost 2-1 to Ajax in the round of 16, but still advanced on the away goals rule. Markevych's are currently third in the Ukrainian Premier League after taking 44 points from their 20 fixtures so far in the campaign. They are unbeaten in their last six league matches and come into this game on a high following their 5-0 victory away Olimpik Donetsk last Sunday.

Brugge are in a similar good run of form as they have tasted defeat just once in their last 11 matches, with nine of those games ending in victory for Preud'homme's side. Their only loss came at the hands of Kortrijk in the Pro League, a division they currently lead by two points over second-place Gent.

The teams have been announced and we'll start with the home side.

DNIPRO STARTING XI: Bokyo, Douglas, Luchkevych, Fedetskiy, Kankava, Leo Matos, Cheberyachko, Bezus, Rotan, Konoplyanka, Seleznyov
Subs: Vlad, Kalinic, Lastuvka, Bruno Gama, Shakhov, Svatok, Bliznichenko

BRUGGE STARTING XI: Ryan, De Fauw, Duarte, De Bock, Mechele, Simons, Refaelov, Vormer, De Sutter, Izquierdo, Storm
Subs: Silva, Vazquez, Kujovic, Coopmen, Van den Buijs, Dierckx, Oulare

Dnipro rested the majority of their starting lineup for the their win over Olimpik Donetsk, but as expected Markevych has recalled his star players for the clash, including Artem Fedetskyi and Yevhen Konoplyanka, in an expected 4-2-3-1 formation.

Preud'homme has made two changes to his side that beat Anderlecht 2-1 at the weekend as Oscar Duarte and Nikola Storm come back into the fold in place of Claudemir and Victor Vazquez. The Belgian side are expected to play in a 4-3-3 formation this evening.

Markevych has spoken of his determination to avoid penalties this evening, but has conceded that the two teams are very evenly match, he told reporters: "In some ways, ourselves and Brugge have similar teams; both sides have quick players and good forwards. The first leg showed that and tomorrow it will be a very hard game for both teams. I'd like to avoid a shoot-out to be honest as we had some problems with penalties in the group stage. However, we do have players who can take spot kicks."

Preud'homme has admitted that his side face a tough task this evening, but still thinks the tie is in the balance despite Dnipro's home advantage, he told reporters: "Dnipro are a very strong team but there are never weak opponents at this stage. They are very well organised; so are we. We have prepared very well, we have studied them thoroughly and we hope to achieve our goal. I don't think they have an advantage from the first leg. Sure, we were not able to score a goal, but we didn't concede either. It's still 50-50.

I agree with Markevych that it'd be better to avoid a shoot-out. But if we have to, we will be ready."


STAT ATTACK! Brugge have never lost in the last eight of the competition as they beat AC Milan in 1976 and overcame Panathinaikos to reach the semi-finals.

STAT ATTACK! Dnipro's Yevhen Konoplyanka has been the most fouled player in the competition this season as he has been felled 38 times.

There's just 10 minutes to go until the players will make their way out on to the pitch for this crucial match for both teams.


Judging by the form guide this game will be extremely close. Dnipro have been scoring goals for fun in the Ukrainian Premier League, but they will not get things all their own way this evening. Brugge have struggled to shut teams out in their recent matches as they have kept just one clean sheet in their last eight matches in all competitions.

The players are making their way out onto the pitch, so we should be underway very soon.

STAT ATTACK! Dnipro have won their last three matches at home in the Europa League without conceding, including their 1-0 triumph over Ajax in the round of 16.

Former Blackburn Rovers strike Nikola Kalinic has been Dnipro's top scorer in the competition this season with four goals. Markevych will look to him to fire his side into the last four of the competition, but his last goal in tournament came in February, three matches ago.

KICKOFF! We're underway in the Ukraine.

Dnipro are right at the visitors with a long ball into the box, but Ryan is on hand to clear the danger. The keper is then alert seconds later to boot the ball clear as it bounced awkwardly between on the edge of box, which prevented Duarte from gathering.

Brugge win a corner down the right and the delivery from Refaelov travels right through the box before the home side clear downfield. A bright start from both teams.

De Fauw lucky to escape a booking early on as he goes for the ball with his boot at head height and catches Izquierdo, which forces the referee to award a free kick, but the midfielder escapes a card.

Dnipro break away down the left as Rotan is presented with space down the flank and he manages to find the run of Konoplyanka in the penalty area. The forward takes a touch to give himself space for the shot, but Duarte comes across along with two other defenders to crowd him out to prevent the strike.

The home side are dominating possession at the moment as the visitors are struggling to find a way into the game. However, Dnipro are yet to test Ryan despite their good spell with the ball.

Dnipro have a chance to threaten now as Mechele handles the ball as Konoplyanka tried to raid past him. The referee points for a free kick around 30 yards from goal, and Konoplyanka appears to be lining up a strike.

SHOT! First shot on target for the home side, and we'll call it a warning strike as Konoplyanka fires his effort from the free kick over the wall, but Ryan is able to make the save without moving.

Dnipro work the ball well in the final third but as they try to carve out room for a shot the orange shirts converge in mass to protect their goal. Bezus tries to break the deadlock with an ambitious effort from distance, but his strike sails well over the bar.

Konoplyanka is allowed to raid down the left flank and he is given the opportunity to cut back on to his right foot to lift a cross into the box, but De Bock is on hand to clear the danger at the back post to head behind as Luchkevych lurked.

Brugge clear the corner thanks to a punching clearance from Ryan and they are able to break in numbers down the left wing. Izquierdo speeds down the flank and whips a low cross into the box which finds itself to Vormer on the right. The midfielder then lays the ball into the path of Refaelov, who opts against firing a first-time strike at goal and decides to raid to the bylibne, but he loses control of the ball and chance is spurned.

CHANCE! The home side threaten from a free kick as Rotan lifts the ball into the box from the left. Leo Matos gets up highest in the box to head at goal, but his looping header travels over the bar and lands on the roof of the net.

Bezus is overzealous in his attempts to win the ball back for his side as he overruns the ball and brings down Mechele, and is also lucky to escape a booking. The referee is letting some challenges go in the early stages of the match, which is a good thing for the game.

The quality hasn't been there for both teams yet in this match as De Bock loses control as gets into space to raid forward, and then shows his frustration by conceding a free kick for a foul on Seleznyov.

The free kick from Rotan is poor as he attempts to hit the ball long into the box, but underhits the ball completely and Mechele is able to clear the ball with his boot on the edge of the box with no blue shirts around him.

Brugge earn the chance to threaten as they win a free kick. Refaelov stands over the ball and lifts it towards the box, but his delivery is awful as Boyko is able to gather with ease. The quality has to improve in this game if its going to be decided in the 90 minutes.

CHANCE! Good work down the left from Dnipro carves out space for Bezus to fire a cross to the near post and he is able to pick out Seleznyov. The forward heads at goal as he gets in front of Duarte, but his headed effort goes inches wide of the post.

Brugge break forward in numbers as Vormer releases the run of Izquido down the left. The winger breaks to the edge of the box and looks to shoot, before he his brought down by a thunderous challenge from Fedetskiy, and the right-back goes unpunished as the referee fails to award a free kick or a booking. That looked a poor decision from the official.

The home side have struggled with their crossing this evening and Konoplyanka wastes another good chance to whip a cross into the box from a corner as his delivery fails to beat the first man.

Markevych will be very frustrated with his side as they've worked themselves into a good positions on several occasions in the first half, but their delivery from the wide areas has let them down and left them vulnerable on the counter.

Kankava almost gets through down the right as he latches onto a pass from Seleznyov, but Mechele comes across to stop him shooting from a tight angle as he makes a crucial block. Duarte helps out as well to clear the ball from the penalty area. A warning from the home side, and Brugge get away with that one thanks to Mechele.

Brugge break down the left as Izquierdo fires the ball across edge of the box. De Sutter takes a swing at the ball but his tame effort is blocked back into the path of Refaelov, who swings at fresh air as he attempts a strike on the volley. The home side manage to hack the ball clear, leaving the Israeli to rue his missed opportunity.

Refaelov shows his class with a surging run to the edge of the box before he's brought down to win a free. The forward has a chance to fire an effort at goal, but he passes up the opportunity to try a training ground move with a short pass to Vormer in the wall, who tries to return the ball to the Israeli, but Dnipro are wise to it and clear the danger. What a waste!

CHANCE! Luchkevych nearly creates something out of nothing for the home side as Mechele tries to shepherd the ball out of play, but the forward keeps the pressure on him and nearly wins the ball to force an effort at goal, which would have caught Ryan off guard. Fortunately for the Brugge duo, the ball went out of play off the defender for a corner.

Cheberyachko rises highest in the area from the corner and powers a header at goal, but his effort goes just over the bar as the referee blows the half-time whistle.

HALF-TIME: Dnipro 0-0 Club Brugge

It's goalless at the break as neither side has been able to break the deadlock in the first half. Both sides have lacked quality in the final third of the pitch, with Dnipro especially guilty. Brugge have sat back in the opening 45 minutes to hit the home side on the break, but haven't been able to find the decisive goal. You get the feeling that one bad mistake will decide this contest.

SUBSTITUTION: Bezus makes way for Shakhov at the break for the home side.

RESTART! We're back underway in this Europa League quarter-final clash.

CHANCE! Rotan releases the run of Konoplyanka down the left flank with quickly taken free kick, and the forward races through on goal, but can only fire his left-footed strike wide of the target. A real chance for the home side to take the lead spurned by Konoplyanka.

The game has settled back into a rhythm at the start of the half and once again the home side are dominating possession, while Brugge seem quite content to put men behind the ball and play on the counter.

Seleznyov raids down the right with a bustling run and wins a corner as Vormer tracks him all the way to knock the ball behind with a sliding tackle. Rotan lifts the ball into a dangerous area, but Ryan is able to come through a crowd of players to punch the ball clear under pressure.

DISALLOWED GOAL! Seleznyov breaks through on goal as he collects a pass from Kankava. He maintains his composure to hammer the ball past Ryan, but the flag is up for offside.

Brugge really need to work the get into this game as their attacking players are doing very little for them this evening. Preud'homme may be forced to adjust his tactics as the way things are going his side could get picked off by a single goal here, which will not endear him to his side's supporters.

YELLOW CARD! Rotan goes into the book for challenge on Refaelov.

The game has very little tempo at the moment as both teams are lacking in ideas. The game needs a spark from somewhere to bring it to life.

CHANCE! Konoplyanka makes a surging run down the left flank and beats the challenge of Duarte to create space to fire a left-footed strike at goal, but Ryan gets down well to make the stop.

Another opening for the home side as they work the ball across to the right flank where Shakhov has spaced to drill an effort, but he miscues his shot, although it takes a deflection off Mechele and behind for a corner.

SUBSTITUTION: Oulare comes on for the visitors as De Sutter makes way after a fruitless 69 minutes on the pitch.

Oulare tries his luck from distance as space opens up for shot for the visitors, but his strike sails just over the bar. The game is becoming a bit more open now, and the first goal could be very crucial in deciding the contest.

SUBSTITUTION: A change for the home side now as former Blackburn striker Nikola Kalinic replaces Seleznyov.

Kalinic is trying his utmost to make an impact for the hosts by throwing himself about in aeriel duels against Mechele, but nothing much is happening in the final third for Dnipro at the moment.

A ball into the box from Refaelov causes problems for Boyko as Oulare challenges for the ball and the keeper fails to gather. The ball bounces around the box but no player in orange can react in time before the keeper gets back on his line and the chance is gone.

GOAL! Dnipro 1-0 Club Brugge (Shakhov)

Dnipro take the lead and it's a moment of brilliance from Shakhov as he collects a pinpoint through ball from Rotan and raids down the right. He cuts back on to his left foot on the edge of the box and curls an effort pas the outstretched hand of Ryan into the top corner. The ball looks to have take a deflection off Mechele on its way into the net, but the strike looked to be goalbound anyway.

The goal has changed everything and now Club Brugge have to go on the attack to get back into the game and potentially steal the tie on away goals. An action packed last six minutes await!

SUBSTITUTIONS: Dierckx and Vazquez come on for the final minutes for the visitors as Izquierdo and Storm make way.

CHANCE! A cross comes in from the left and Dierckx has the chance to head at goal, unmarked from six yards, but he doesn't make good contact with his header and the home side hack the ball clear. Oulare then commits a poor foul to allow Dnipro a chance to boot the ball downfield.

Dnipro have managed to wastet two valuable minutes in the corner as the visitors were unable to win the ball from them. Time is fast running out for Brugge and their negative tactics in this game could cost them dearly.

There will be three minutes of added time.

SUBSTITUTION: Bruno Gama replaces Luchkevych for the home side as they seek to bolster their defensive options late in the game.

Brugge throw men forward in their last chance saloon as they pump the ball forward into the box.

FULL-TIME: Dnipro 1-0 Club Brugge

Dnipro make history as they have reached the semi-finals of the Europa League for the first time in their history thanks to Yevhen Shakhov's 82nd-minute strike. The game was edging towards extra-time until the midfielder produced a moment of magic to send his side through to the last four of the competition with a left-footed strike into the top corner. Myron Markevych's men were the better of the two sides on the evening and deserved to advance despite the lack of quality on show in the clash.

Brugge were not at the races this evening and their willingness to sit back cost them as they were eventually picked off by a fine through ball from Ruslan Rotan to tee up Shakhov for the winning goal. Michel Preud'homme will have a long time to think about his tactics this evening and may rue his decision to play with one up front for so long into the match.

Thanks for joining our coverage this evening, be sure to stick with Sports Mole for all the reaction from tonight's matches.

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