FC Shakhtar Donetsk 2 : 2 Zenit St.Petersburg - Rybka the hero for Donetsk

Posted Wednesday, October 19, 2011 by PA

Shakhtar Donetsk had goalkeeper Olexandr Rybka to thank as they emerged with a 2-2 draw from a thrilling Champions League Group G clash with Zenit St Petersburg.

The home side twice led, through Willian and Luiz Adriano, but Zenit equalised through Roman Shirokov - whose earlier penalty Rybka had saved - and Viktor Faitzulin.

A point was the least the Russians deserved, though, as they had comfortably the better of the chances against their Ukrainian opposition, who remain bottom of the group with two points while their opponents are second on four.

Shakhtar's Douglas Costa curled an early free-kick wide before Shirokov saw his 25-yard shot tipped over by Rybka and then headed the resulting corner over.

The same player had a golden chance to open the scoring in the 10th minute when Dmitro Chygrynskiy's foul on Viktor Faitzulin gave Zenit a spot-kick, but his placed effort was saved by a diving Rybka.

Tomas Hubocan fired over for Zenit before the busy Rybka denied Danny from Shirokov's cross.

And the keeper's efforts were rewarded after 15 minutes when Jadson teed up fellow Brazilian Willian to curl home superbly from 20 yards and give Shakhtar the lead.

Jadson himself went close before Danny twice tried his luck, Rybka parrying the second effort to safety.

Faitzulin smashed an effort against the post as the first half continued at a blistering pace, while Jadson's shot brought Zenit keeper Viacheslav Malafeev into action for the first time.

Shirokov atoned for his earlier miss with an equaliser in the 32nd minute, converting Alexander Bukharov's cross six yards out.

Douglas Costa had an effort blocked by Zenit defender Nicolas Lombaerts before Shakhtar restored their lead on the stroke of half-time, Razvan Rat crossing for Luiz Adriano to finish.

Lombaerts was again in the firing line straight from the restart when he blocked Luiz Adriano's close-range shot, and Jadson was off target twice as Shakhtar sought to kill the game off.

A route-one response saw Alexander Bukharov shoot wide, before the same player was denied by Darijo Srna's block.

Willian's effort was also blocked and, after Danny and Faitzulin went close, Zenit levelled once again when the latter brilliantly lobbed Rybka from 25 yards.

Malafeev punched away Douglas Costa's dangerous inswinging free-kick and parried Danny's effort before Chygrynskiy blocked Bukharov's overhead kick.

Rybka had one more stunning save up his sleeve, from Danny's point-blank header, with Chygrynskiy blocking Shirokov's follow-up. Faitzulin and Igor Denisov then also had efforts blocked as Shakhtar held on for a point.