Shakhtar Donetsk Suffers First Defeat Under Arda Turan

Shakhtar Donetsk suffered a crushing blow in the 2025–26 Ukrainian Premier League, falling 4–1 to LNZ Cherkasy — a side that had scored just five goals in their previous seven matches. The shock result not only snapped Shakhtar’s momentum but also reignited the title race.

Remarkably, this marked the fourth time in two seasons that Shakhtar have conceded four goals in a league match — and not to heavyweights like Dynamo Kyiv, but to teams outside the traditional top tier. Last year it was Oleksandriya and Kolos; this time, the giant slayers were LNZ.

Head coach Vitalii Ponomarenko completely outclassed Arda Turan, not just tactically, but psychologically. Instead of sitting deep or parking the bus — the usual approach against Shakhtar — LNZ unleashed relentless tempo and high-intensity pressing, exploiting the visitors' post-European fatigue after their demanding Thursday night clash in Aberdeen.

Shakhtar looked stunned. The first shot on target came only in first-half stoppage time, when Meireles hit a tame header straight at the keeper. Prior to that, LNZ had already gone ahead in the 14th minute. A turnover by Mykola Matviyenko allowed Prosper to race down the wing, delivering a cross that eventually fell to Kuzik, who smashed home from the edge of the box — 1–0.

Things went from bad to worse. In the 61st minute, following a flurry of ineffective substitutions from Turan, Assinor punished more sloppy defending, with Izaki and Azarov both failing to clear. Ten minutes later, Ryabov added a third after another failed clearance and zero pressure on Pasich. The game was over.

Ehor Nazarina pulled one back with a late strike, but calling it a "lifeline" would be generous. Shakhtar were outplayed in every phase, and the final blow came in the 89th minute — Prosper, again, intercepted a weak pass, danced past Matviyenko and slotted home into the far corner. 4–1. Carnage.

2025-26, Ukraine - Premier League

Shakhtar - LNZ 1:4 (0:1)
Goals: Kuzyk D., 14 (0:1); Assinor, 61 (0:2); Ryabov A., 71 (0:3); Nazaryna, 85 (1:3); Prosper, 89 (1:4)

Shakhtar: Riznyk D.; Pedrinho A. (Azarov I., 57); Matviyenko; Bondar V.; Konoplya; Pedrinho; Bondarenko A-m (Lucas Ferreira, 57); Ocheretko (Nazaryna, 81); Marlon Gomes (Newerton, 57); Isaque (Kauã Elias, 62); Luca Meirelles
Substitution: Azarov I. (from 57); Lucas Ferreira (from 57); Newerton (from 57); Kauã Elias (from 62); Nazaryna (from 81)
Bench: Fesiun; Vinicius Т.; Ghram; Marlon; Farina; Hlushchenko; Shved M.
Yellow Cards: Marlon 90

LNZ: Palamarchuk O.; Kuzyk D.; Horin O. (Daiko, 84); Muravskyi; Prosper (Kravchuk D., 90); Jashari (Nonikashvili, 84); Pasich G.; Ryabov A.; Didyk R.; Pastukh E.; Assinor
Substitution: Daiko (from 84); Nonikashvili (from 84); Kravchuk D. (from 90)
Bench: Ledvii; Samoylenko K.; Kaplienko; Kysil Ya.; Tankovskyi; Podolyak; Bennette J.
Yellow Cards: Ryabov A. 47; Prosper 89; Assinor 90