Donetsk force draw against United

Football | Champions League

 

 

Brazilian striker Taison's goal 14 minutes from time denied Manchester United a second successive win in the Champions League group stage on Wednesday as Shakhtar Donetsk grabbed a 1-1 draw.
The draw -- which sees Shakhtar remain unbeaten at home to English teams -- leaves both sides unbeaten after two games with four points.
The point -- United took the lead through Danny Welbeck early in the first-half -- will ease some of the pressure on manager David Moyes, whose side have made their worst start to a league season since 1989.
United had the better of the early exchanges, Robin van Persie, who was returning to the starting XI for the first time since the opening group win against Bayer Leverkusen, curling a shot high over the bar in the ninth minute after a super ball by Tom Cleverley.


However, that sparked the hosts into life and for several minutes they dominated play, although, clever approach play was not rewarded with shots on target.
Cleverley, though, was a little fortunate to get the benefit of the doubt from Czech referee Pavel Kravlovec when he brought down Alex Teixeira in the box.
United went ahead shortly afterwards as Marouane Fellaini got to the byline and his low cross evaded a Shakhtar defender and fell to Welbeck, who made no mistake from close range.
Shakhtar harried and pressed United for the remainder of the half but to no avail, their final ball proving to be either too ambitious or inaccurate.

However, the hosts kept at their task, while United went into their shell and created very little, Moyes sending on Ryan Giggs for a Champions League record 145th appearance to try and add some urgency to their play.
However, it was Shakhtar who finally struck, Taison making no mistake when the ball fell kindly to the 25-year-old as it rebounded off Nemanja Vidic to put them level 14 minutes from time -- the hosts reliance on Brazilians exemplified by the fact of their last 15 Champions League goals 14 have been by players from Brazil.
United were left to hang on grimly for a point and had goalkeeper David de Gea to thank for leaving Ukraine with a point, as the Spaniard saved a deflection off United defender Chris Smalling that was goalbound.