A 44th-minute goal from Marlos has put Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 ahead at the break in their Champions League clash against Rapid Vienna.
The visitors came close to breaking the deadlock in the 14th minute when Oleksandr Gladkiy latched on to a through-ball in the box, but his effort was well saved by Jan Novota.
The Vienna keeper was in fine form when he made another solid stop to deny Shakhtar again minutes later as Yaroslav Rakitskiy fired a strike at goal, but the keeper showed good handling to keep the ball out.
The home side came into the game when Louis Schaub was afforded space and time on the edge of the box to fire a shot at goal, but Andriy Pyatov was equal to the effort.
Shakhtar continued to have the better of the opportunities as Rakitskiy was played in down the left, but his strike was denied by Novota.
The Ukrainian side took the lead on the stroke of half time after Pyatov denied Florian Kainz at the other end of the pitch. Rakitskiy raided down the left flank and put the ball into the middle for Marlos to beat one defender and fire the ball into the net.
Simon Sinclair
