League

L Abarset Park
Spectators: 10850 (Terracing: 8139, Seating: 2495, VIP seats: 216) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Ivor Whitehead made the kick off which started today's match. Dennis Baldwin made a fantastic save in the 5th minute, when Frederico Hendrickx sent off a good shot on target. FC Shakhtar Donetsk's attentive Donny Sheringham managed to snatch the ball when Kalidou Koulibaly made a throw-in in the 6th minute of the game. Dennis Baldwin made an important save on a dangerous shot by Frederico Hendrickx in the 7th minute. In the 10th minute, Frederico Hendrickx fired away a killer shot towards the goal that, to the delight of Dennis Baldwin, passed just outside the right post. Ivor Whitehead'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. Ivor Whitehead helped the player get up and apologised. El Expreso's Dennis Baldwin proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 15th minute of the match, managed to save El Expreso from getting a goal against them. In the 16th minute, FC Shakhtar Donetsk's Frederico Hendrickx ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Dennis Baldwin. Dennis Baldwin yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-0. After a defensive mix-up in FC Shakhtar Donetsk's zone, Ivor Whitehead stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Zhang Hong Xun came out of the goal and Ivor Whitehead tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Frederico Hendrickx's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Dennis Baldwin read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 23rd minute of play. Ivor Whitehead sent away a hard shot on goal in the 26th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 28th minute, FC Shakhtar Donetsk's Frederico Hendrickx ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Dennis Baldwin. Dennis Baldwin yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 2-0. In the 30th minute Frederico Hendrickx shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dennis Baldwin saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 32 minutes had been played when some careless play by El Expreso's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Ulryk Prosowski was slow to take the kick. During this time FC Shakhtar Donetsk's players had a chance to rest. After taking down the ball on FC Shakhtar Donetsk's corner Kris Golding fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Dennis Baldwin quite easily take care of the ball. Dennis Baldwin showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Frederico Hendrickx, who was totally free with the ball in the 33rd minute. Dennis Baldwin made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Frederico Hendrickx in the 36th minute of play. FC Shakhtar Donetsk were awarded a corner in the 37th minute after El Expreso's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Ulryk Prosowski took the corner. Xove Pintor was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. Frederico Hendrickx struck a weak shot in the 43rd minute. Dennis Baldwin didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for FC Shakhtar Donetsk. In the 46th minute, Elvio Barto hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Zhang Hong Xun made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Zhu Quan in the 47th minute of play. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-0 at half-time.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Frederico Hendrickx made a kick off. In the 51st minute Frederico Hendrickx shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dennis Baldwin saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The corner went over the outstretched arms of El Expreso's goalie and right to Donny Sheringham. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. El Expreso's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. Frederico Hendrickx fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 60th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dennis Baldwin having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Frederico Hendrickx in the 64th minute of play forced El Expreso's goalkeeper Dennis Baldwin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Dennis Baldwin took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Frederico Hendrickx, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. FC Shakhtar Donetsk were awarded a corner in the 67th minute after El Expreso's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Ulryk Prosowski took the corner. After 68 minutes El Expreso's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Ulryk Prosowski who took care of the corner kick. A well-hit corner resulted in Frederico Hendrickx heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. Thanos Siokos hit a great freekick 72 minutes into the match. El Expreso's Dennis Baldwin played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Frederico Hendrickx in the 73rd minute of play. 74 minutes into the match, El Expreso's goal looked a bit too open when Frederico Hendrickx came free, but Dennis Baldwin reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. FC Shakhtar Donetsk's Donny Sheringham managed, thanks to a brazen rush, stole the ball on a throw-in made by Kalidou Koulibaly in the 76 minute of the game. Dennis Baldwin made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Frederico Hendrickx in the 79th minute of play. FC Shakhtar Donetsk's attentive Elu Milde managed to snatch the ball when Kalidou Koulibaly made a throw-in in the 85th minute of the game. In the 90th minute the ball was on its way in behind El Expreso's goalkeeper Dennis Baldwin, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 91 minutes into the match, El Expreso's goal looked a bit too open when Frederico Hendrickx came free, but Dennis Baldwin reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line.