League

L Abarset Park
Spectators: 10965 (Terracing: 8225, Seating: 2522, VIP seats: 218) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Frederico Hendrickx made the kick off which started today's match. A collision led to Valencia C.F. getting a freekick after 3 minutes play. José Luis Gayà hit a great ball. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Frederico Hendrickx in the 12th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Santiago Cañizares saved Valencia C.F. from getting behind. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 13th minute of the game. One of FC Shakhtar Donetsk:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Valencia C.F.:s goal. After a long run with the ball, Guillermo Farré did a trick in the 15th minute in front of FC Shakhtar Donetsk's goalkeeper, who threw himself to the side. After that it was simple to shoot 0-1. An impressive performance by Valencia C.F.'s Guillermo Farré! In the 28th minute Joe Herring shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Zhang Hong Xun saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Frederico Hendrickx who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 30thth minute tested the skills of Santiago Cañizares when he managed to save the team from getting behind. With a little luck, Valencia C.F.'s Santiago Cañizares got control of the ball when Frederico Hendrickx tried to sneak it across the goal line. Ulryk Prosowski made in the 34th minute of the game a throw-in that took a bad bounce and was taken care of by Valencia C.F.'s José Luis Gayà. Joe Herring sent away a hard shot on goal in the 36th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Santiago Cañizares made an important save on a dangerous shot by Frederico Hendrickx in the 37th minute. In the 37th minute, FC Shakhtar Donetsk's Frederico Hendrickx dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 2-1. A throw-in in the 44th minute of the game was made by Ryan Plumber with Guillermo Farré as target, who quickly passed the ball forward. In the 48th minute, Lance Fairfax hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Man Tas was the one to do the kick off. After 52 minutes, José Luis Gayà mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Valencia C.F. and the FC Shakhtar Donetsk players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to Valencia C.F. getting a freekick after 52 minutes play. José Luis Gayà hit a great ball. 2-2 became the score in the 55th minute when Joe Herring elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. In the 63rd minute of the match Valencia C.F. got a corner. FC Shakhtar Donetsk's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Guillermo Farré ran over to the corner to take the kick. Guillermo Farré made a great header on Valencia C.F.'s corner, it was just that FC Shakhtar Donetsk's Zhang Hong Xun managed to reach the ball for a save. Man Tas fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 68th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Zhang Hong Xun having to interfere. Valencia C.F.'s Al Capone was substituted for Alfred Claydon. Santiago Cañizares came out of the goal in the 73rd minute to try and stop a shot by FC Shakhtar Donetsk's Frederico Hendrickx. But to his dismay, Frederico Hendrickx quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 3-2. Al Capone's late challenge caught a FC Shakhtar Donetsk's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Al Capone helped the player get up and apologised. Al Capone hit a great freekick 75 minutes into the match. Frederico Hendrickx might have been able to make a better finish in the 78th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Santiago Cañizares. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Frederico Hendrickx ran back to his position shaking his head. Santiago Cañizares took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Frederico Hendrickx, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Valencia C.F.'s Santiago Cañizares played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Frederico Hendrickx in the 80th minute of play. Man Tas struck a weak shot in the 82nd minute. Zhang Hong Xun didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Valencia C.F.. A collision led to FC Shakhtar Donetsk getting a freekick after 95 minutes play. Xove Pintor hit a great ball. After 96 played minutes Valencia C.F. got a freekick which was hit by José Luis Gayà. FC Shakhtar Donetsk were really happy, having secured the victory after a very even contest. They thanked the players of Valencia C.F. for a fine match.