Shakhtar Donetsk
Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1 AEK Athens: Champions League Drama Unfolds
Shakhtar Donetsk staged a breathtaking second-half comeback to crush AEK Athens 3-1 in Matchday 2 of the Champions League group stage, turning the Donbas Arena into a cauldron of noise after Vinícius Tobias and substitute Gleiker Mendoza completed a stunning turnaround.
AEK Athens Strike First Through Majer
The Greek side silenced the home crowd after 28 minutes when Lovro Majer — already on a yellow card — pounced on Stavros Pilios’ delivery to slot past Dmytro Riznyk. Shakhtar’s defence looked ragged, but the game flipped three minutes later when VAR awarded a penalty for Harold Moukoudi’s clumsy challenge. Pedrinho kept his nerve from the spot, sending Antonio Brignoli the wrong way to equalize.
Shakhtar Turn the Screw
With 54% possession and 12 total shots, Shakhtar’s dominance grew after the break. The breakthrough came on 80 minutes when Alisson’s driving run released Tobias, who rifled home from close range. Six minutes later, substitute Mendoza — on the pitch just 23 minutes — applied the killer blow, tapping in Isaque’s cross to spark wild celebrations.
AEK’s Discipline Unravels
Four yellow cards told the story for AEK, whose aggression backfired as Marin, Moukoudi, and Varga all saw cautions. Despite outshooting Shakhtar 13-12, their xG of 1.12 reflected wasted chances. Majer’s early withdrawal after his booking left them toothless in attack.
What This Means
For Shakhtar, this was a statement win that reignites their Champions League campaign after Matchday 1 struggles. AEK’s hopes now hang by a thread after conceding late yet again. The Ukrainians’ never-say-die spirit — embodied by Tobias’ lung-busting runs — could prove crucial in a tight group.
Key Moments
28′ ⚽ AEK Athens FC — Lovro Majer (assist: Stavros Pilios)
34′ ⚽ Shakhtar Donetsk — Pedrinho
80′ ⚽ Shakhtar Donetsk — Vinícius Tobias (assist: Alisson)
86′ ⚽ Shakhtar Donetsk — Gleiker Mendoza (assist: Isaque)
