Intro:

Shakhtar Donetsk handed first defeat of the season by mid-table Zorya Lugansk in the Ukrainian Premier League on Sunday (September 21).

Script:

Shakhtar Donetsk hosted Zorya in the Ukrainian Premier League, although the game was held in Kiev given the delicate situation in Donetsk.

The home side went into the match top of the league and unbeaten with only one goal conceded in six games so far this season.

But they looked shaky from the get go as Zorya made a lively start and almost went ahead through Pylyp Budkivskiy's header.

Shakhtar 'keeper Anton Kanibolotskiy remained alert in the opening half - and needed to be - as Zorya kept the pressure on.

The 26 year-old stopper making a good save from Zeljko Ljubenovic's effort.

The opening goal eventually came in the 42nd minute.

Some poor defending saw the ball come loose inside the penalty area - Maksim Malyshev pounced to put Zorya in front.

Shakhtar continued to struggle after the break, their best chance coming late on.

Oleksandr Gladkiy had the entire goal at his mercy and should have scored but he somehow managed to put his header straight at Mykyta Shevchenko who saved well.

Zorya handing Shakhtar their first defeat of the season but the Donetsk side remain top, two points above Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.