Europa League – While the Bretons thought they had made the difference, in extra time, Shakthar snatched their qualification during penalties.
By Adrian Mathieu
© FRED TANNEAU / AFP
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DBefore a sold-out Roazhon Park, Stade Rennais represented the last hopes of Ligue 1 in the Europa League after the eliminations of Nantes against Juventus and Monaco against Bayer Leverkusen. SRFC entered the game with good intentions of closing their gap against Shakhtar Donetsk after a 1-2 first leg defeat. In the 11th minute, Lovro Majer then Adrien Truffert get a double chance but Trubin takes care of the essentials and deflects Rennes’ attempts.
Rennes saved by the VAR
Despite the advantage of possession and situations, the Breton club believed to find itself in an unfortunate position. Before half an hour from a set piece, Lassina Traoré inherits the ball in the six meters and thinks to open the scoring for Shakhtar Donetsk. After watching the video arbitration, the Burkinabe striker finally sees his goal invalidated, after a hand from a teammate.
Bruno Génésio’s team is trying to move forward but the Ukrainian block is compact and leaves very little space for the Rennes attackers. Amine Gouiri, Karl Toko-Ekambi and Arnaud Kalimuendo have been discreet since kick-off. From a distance, Jérémy Doku tried his luck with the right (35th), without success. The current fifth in Ligue 1 goes back to the locker room without being more advanced. We will have to be much sharper in the second half to make a difference and hope to qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League.
Toko-Ekambi paves the way for his family
Bruno Génésio’s speech at half-time seems to have paid off since Stade Rennais will quickly find the fault when they return from the locker room. After a superbly executed counter, hard work from Jérémy Doku and a final serve from Amine Gouiri, Karl Toko-Ekambi opened the scoring with a powerful shot deflected by Trubin (52′) into his own goal.
The Bretons still need a goal to qualify but Shakhtar are recovering well after conceding that first goal. Konoplya thus thinks of equalizing but he comes across a Mandanda of the big nights (66th) who pulls out the parade he needs against the Ukrainian right side. New alert a quarter of an hour later with Zubkov found in the area: the 26-year-old saw his cross in force pass in front of the Rennes goal (83rd). If Truffert then Tait pushed until the end of regulation time to offer the second goal to Stade Rennais, Shakhtar held on and took their opponent into extra time.
Imperial trubin during the penalty shootout
With this extension, Bruno Génésio will take the opportunity to make many changes. Désiré Doué, Birger Meling and Ibrahim Salah thus entered the game. The latter will stand out during the second half, after a rush from Jérémy Doku, the Moroccan international striker scores in the empty goal (106th ) and once again capsized Roazhon Park.
Despite this second goal and a European atmosphere of the big nights, Stade Rennais will be surprised at the end of the extension. On a Ukrainian cross, Belocian misses and sends the ball into the back of Steve Mandanda’s net (118th). 2-1 as in the first leg, the final decision of this Europa League play-off will be decided on penalties.
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In a somewhat crazy scenario, Stade Rennais was initially behind before having the opportunity to pass in front. But in the game in the game between the two goalkeepers, Mandanda and Trubin, it was the Ukrainian who had the last laugh with three saves. In the end, Shakhtar clinched their qualification (2-1, 4-5 pens) and showered the hopes of the Bretons who, like Nantes and Monaco, came out of this competition with their heads down. Last hopes for France on the continental scene: PSG in the Champions League and Nice in the Conference League.
1/16 final – Roazhon Park
Thursday February 23, 2023 at 9 p.m. – Referee: Tobias Stieler
Ended
Composition of teams.
Rennes
Starting XI: 4-1-4-1
Sh Donetsk