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[61]
Tapsoba, closed him down, but Tetê had already committed as the shooting angle opened up. Twenty-five yards out, he struck it cleanly with his left foot. The ball flew towards the goal at pace, curving sharply in the air, dipping and swerving toward the top left corner.
Hradecky launched himself into the air, fingertips extended, but no matter how he stretched, he couldn't reach it. The ball flew past his gloved hands and smashed into the side netting. "Consolation for Shakhtar!" Rae announced. "Tetê with a mont of brilliance!"
The Ukrainian side celebrated modestly, knowing the match was beyond them but finding so pride in avoiding a complete whitewash. Their fans—a small pocket of travelling supporters—found their voice, applauding their team's perseverance.
[Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 Shakhtar Donetsk — Tetê 62']
[68]
The equaliser brought so life back to the ga with the Ukrainian side fighting harder to hold the line. Their attacks grew bolder, especially forcing the two holding midfielders who were already on yellow cards to be more cautious. Seeing this, Bosz no longer hesitated and made his first substitution, taking three off at once.
The fourth official's board went up: Leon Bailey on for Moussa Diaby. The Jamaican winger jogged to the touchline, receiving instructions from the manager before entering. Diaby walked off to applause, having delivered another solid performance.
Baumgartlinger left the stage for the right back Michell Weiser, pushing captain Lars Bender into the holding midfielder role. Demirbay also ca off for the Chilean Charles Aranguiz, joining Lars in the holding midfielder role. "Smart managent from Bosz," Rae observed.
Things for the German side quickly stabilised with the introduction of fresh legs, allowing them to once again dominate possession. Bailey got his first touch in the 70th minute from a ping out wide from Lars Bender from centerfield. He took it on the cut back, turning inward to escape his marker's attempt to latch onto him.
A one-two with Aranguiz, he skipped past a Shakhtar midfielder heading back up the wing with the opposing Brazilian left-back hot on his tail. Grabbing his shirt in hopes of slowing him down didn't stop Bailey, who had already accelerated, leaving him clutching at air.
He cut inside, as he closed in on the box, drawing Vitão across, then played a clever reverse pass to Weiser, who had sprinted up the flank overlapping perfectly. The fullback crossed first-ti, not letting Ismaily Donetsk's left back get close, sending a dangerous outswinger curving into the six-yard box. Schick broke free of Bondar's hold and attacked, his powerful header sending it goalward.
The ball didn't fly far, though, as a pair of gloves appeared in its way, punching outward. "Trubin clears with authority, but it's not over," Rae exclaid as the punched-out ball fell to Wirtz at the edge of the box, who struck it first-ti on the volley.
Vitão threw himself into the block, the ball cannoning off his shin and out for a corner. "Vitor Eduardo da Silva Matos!" Robson exclaid. "Wirtz saw his na on the score sheet, but the Brazilian defender ca to the Ukrainians' rescue!"
[72']
Rakim went to take the corner from the left side, lining up for an inswinger with his right foot. Inside the box, bodies jostled for position. Schick occupied Bondar and Vitão, his physical presence demanding attention. Tapsoba sneaked toward the near post, dragging Maycon with him.
Rakim raised his hand, signalling for them to attack the near post as he took three steps back after receiving the go-ahead from the referee. He took one long step followed by two quick steps, accelerating towards the ball in a curved run-up. His strike was feather soft, whipping the ball curving into the box with a vicious pace.
All the bodies in red charged toward the area at the front post, dragging their markers with them. But to everyone's befuddlent, the ball was much higher than expected and seed to be curving toward the back post. The Box, which should have been packed, now had a large hole outside the far past where the ball descended.
Right back Dodô, who had been covering the far post, tried to charge out to clear it, but a body in red appeared swinging out his leg to et the ball on the volley. The contact was clean, redirecting the ball downward past the goalkeeper's desperate dive. The net rippled violently as the ball entered the Donetsk goal for the fourth ti tonight.
"FLORIAN WIRTZ!" Rae's voice exploded. "The teenager scores! What a delivery from Rex and Wirtz with the perfect finish!"
Wirtz sprinted toward the corner flag, sliding on his knees as his teammates converged. Rakim was first there, joining him as they celebrated the goal, unrestrained Joy evident. Robson's tone carried admiration. "These two youngsters are putting on an absolute clinic tonight, Derek. Three goals and two assists among them now. The future of German football is on full display at the BayArena."
[Bayer Leverkusen 4-1 Shakhtar Donetsk — Florian Wirtz 72']
[76']
Shakhtar had effectively given up on a sudden reversal as Castro made another substitution. He brought on academy prospects for experience, looking to see the ga out. Leverkusen also slowed down, choosing to thodically break down their opponent rather than actively looking to extend their lead.
Still, they remained dangerous as Bailey received the ball on the right flank in the 78th minute. He turned with a Cruyff turn, beating a nearby defender, and drove at Ismaily, who continued to retreat. Just as he crossed into the final third, he suddenly cut inside past a half-hearted challenge.
He played the ball into Schick's feet, the Czech striker laying it off first-ti to Aranguiz. The Chilean turned, seeing space opening up. He launched a diagonal ball toward the left wing, where Rakim had drifted. The winger controlled the ball on his chest, letting it drop perfectly onto his left foot as he brought it down.
Dodô was there imdiately, getting low as he blocked the way through, waiting for help to arrive. But the Brazilian's legs were heavy from chasing shadows all night, and Rakim had no plans on waiting for him to catch his breath. He didn't perform an elaborate skill move as he turned to face him, instead performing a quick set of step overeves before performing a quick V drag back to escape the defender's lung.
Dodô committed his weight forward, and suddenly, he was facing no one as Rakim slipped past him and accelerated into the space. Taking three touches toward the byline. Bondar slid across to cover, but Rakim had already cut the ball back with the outside of his right foot.
The pass whizzed across, the box into the path of Bailey, who had continued his run. The Jamaican's first touch set him up as he stepped away from the charging man; his second was a curling effort with his left foot. The ball flew toward the far post, dipping late past the outstretched gloves of Trubin, who had launched himself across his goal.
He extended to the max, but his fingertips couldn't quite reach it. The ball nestled into the side netting with a dull thud, nailing another nail into their disastrous night. "LEON BAILEY!" Rae shouted. "Five-one! Leverkusen are running riot!"
[Bayer Leverkusen 5-1 Shakhtar Donetsk — Leon Bailey 78']
[81']
Bosz made his final changes. The board went up: Paulinho and Demarai Gray on for Rakim and Wirtz. The two teenagers walked off to a resounding clap from the 3,000 fans in attendance, both having delivered performances that would be rembered. As Rakim reached the touchline, Bosz grabbed his shoulder. "Excellent work tonight."
Rakim nodded, breathing heavily, his kit soaked with sweat. He high-fived Gray as they exchanged positions, then jogged to the bench. With the match effectively over, both teams went through the motions. Leverkusen kept possession, Shakhtar chased without real conviction. The BayArena crowd, sensing the inevitable conclusion, began singing club anthems.
Gray nearly made it six in the 87th minute when he received a through ball from Aranguiz, but his shot from a tight angle struck the side netting. Paulinho had a chance monts later, his header from a Wendell cross going just over the bar.
[90']
The referee checked his watch. No added ti needed; he blew the final whistle. The Leverkusen players embraced, their satisfaction evident as they earned a crucial three points. Now they had 7 points in what should have been their group of death. One more victory, and they could book their ticket for the next round.
(Fweeet, Fweeet, Fweeeet!)
[FT: Bayer Leverkusen 5-1 Shakhtar Donetsk]
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To Be Continued...
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