Shakhtar crashes out of Champions League after loss to Porto in incredible eight-goal match – video
Shakhtar Donetsk failed to qualify for the Champions League playoffs after losing an entertaining 5-3 affair with Portugal’s Porto in the deciding game of the group stage.
Porto instead secured a spot in the lucrative Champions League playoffs, will Shakhtar was dropped down into the Europa League playoffs.
Both teams sat on 9 points ahead of the match, but Shakhtar needed a win to advance after falling to Porto in the teams’ first head-to-head encounter.
Porto started the match vigorously, reaping rewards in the 9th minute when Galeno scored from close range.
Shakhtar managed to equalize in the 29th minute, causing frustration among Porto players. During Shakhtar's attack, the linesman raised his flag for offside, but the referee allowed play to continue, disorienting the Portuguese players. Sikan then finished a cross from Zubkov
Porto managed to regain the lead before half after Galeno scored his second of the match in the 43rd minute with a powerful shot from a penalty line that deflected into the corner.
The scoring continued throughout the second half. In the 62nd minute, Taremi put Porto up by two, leaving Shakhtar, who needed a win, in a very difficult position.
There were signs of life for Shakhtar in the 73rd minute after a shot by Sikan ricocheted of the keeper and a couple of players before ending up in the goal, making it a 3-2 affair.
But just two minutes later, 40-year-old Porto captain Pepe scored Porto's fourth goal following a corner and Conceicao later added a fifth, killing any hopes of an improbable Shakhtar comeback.
Substitute Eginhaldo scored Shakhtar's final goal to conclude the match.
Porto finished second in the Group H and advanced to the Champions League playoffs, while third-place Shakhtar will continue in the Europa League.
The Europa League draw will take place on December 18 beginning at 14:00 EEST.
Porto (Portugal) — Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) — 5-3 (2-1)
Goals: Galeno (9, 43), Taremi (62), Pepe (75), F. Conceisau (82) — Sikan (29), Eustaquiu (72, own goal), Eginaldu (88).
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