spot-kick winner enough for shakhtar published: wednesday 9 august 2006, 22.15cet fc shakhtar donetsk 1-0 legia warszawa elano blumer's penalty was sufficient to carve out a first-leg lead for the ukrainian side against legia.
by igor linnyk from donetsk
elano blumer's first-half penalty was enough for fc shakhtar donetsk to carve out a narrow lead over legia warszawa in the first leg of their uefa champions league third qualifying round tie.
spot-kick winner shakhtar created a number of opportunities in front of Łukasz fabiański's goal but found it impossible to convert any of them until visiting defender dickson choto felled julius aghahowa in the box on 39 minutes and elano struck from the spot.
struck woodwork shakhtar had other chances to score, notably when team captain anatoliy tymoschuk rattled the crossbar with a raking shot after just ten minutes. later, blumer earned a direct free-kick 20 metres out and nearly scored as the ball deflected narrowly wide off the wall and soon afterwards fabiański had to be alert to keep out matuzalem's fierce shot.
busy period shakhtar threatened again at the start of the second half. brandão's shot appeared destined for the corner of the net but he was denied by the keeper, then julius aghahowa went close after breaking through down the wing. darijo srna had an even better chance as he raced clear on goal but fabiański saved again.
near miss the chances kept coming. tymoschuk hit the post in injury time and substitute striker olexiy bielik found the net with a first-time effort only to see it ruled out for offside.
