Off the wire
• China's new yuan loans drop in February  • Malaysian gov't removes former PM as oil giant advisor  • Across China: China's elderly head home: there is work to be done!  • Tropical Tibet builds roots for blooming ecotourism  • China welcomes EU approval of China-France deal to build nuclear plant in UK  • Natural disasters kill 13 in China in Feb.  • China Focus: China sets to win uphill battle against poverty  • China needs bigger aircraft to meet demand: Boeing  • Roundup: Scores of Taliban killed in infighting in western Afghanistan  • Urgent: Gunpowder plant explosion kills at least two in central Russia: report  
You are here: 　 Home

Shakhtar beat Anderlecht 3-1 in UEFA Europa League

Xinhua, March 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk defeated Belgian club Anderlecht 3-1 in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League's last 16 on Thursday night at the Lvov Arena stadium in western Ukraine.

Playing in front of the home crowd of about 24,000 fans, the Ukrainian side enjoyed a perfect start and had almost full ball possession in the opening period.

The first goal arrived in the 21st minute thanks to joint efforts by Viktor Kovalenko and Taison in the Anderlecht's penalty area. Brazilian midfielder hit the ball into the bottom left corner of the net after an accurate pass by the Ukrainian international.

Three minutes later, things went even worse for the Belgian side after Olexandr Kucher easily netted a header from the edge of the box.

Anderlecht's Ghanaian striker Frank Acheampong was able to pull one goal back in the 69th minute, but ten minutes later, Shakhtar's Eduardo found the net with a flying header to give the Ukrainian side a two-goal advantage into the next week's second leg. Endit