Shakhtar came from behind last night in Kharkiv as Man City target Fred produced a moment of magic to defeat Roma in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Roma control first half
Cengiz Under has earlier struck to give the Italian outfit that ever-important away goal ahead of the second leg on March 13th. The first half could not have gone better for Roma, who appeared in full control throughout and must have been licking their lips heading into the locker-room at halftime.
Edin Dzeko, who after back-and-forth January transfer speculation is now a confirmed Roma player until at least the summer, caused all sorts of problems for the Ukrainian defense.
He appears to have overcome the unsettling January speculation, and he bullied Shakhtar's defense, back to his best leading the line. Under's goal on the 41st minute was richly deserved, and it was mission half-accomplished for the Italians after the first period.
But Donetsk, no stranger to adversity - this is their fifteenth game in their adopted home of Kharkiv due to the conflict in Donetsk - didn't waver, and emerged a resurgent side in the second period.
EPL fans would be forgiven for forgetting the name Facundo Ferreyra, but the Argentinian actually spent a brief period on loan at Newcastle a couple of years ago. Last night he snatched the equalizer, which had a distinct smash-and-grab feel about it.
He took advantage of an error by Flarenzi to slot the ball by Roma keeper Alisson.
Man City Target Fred shows his class
Alisson indeed had a fine game, pulling off several saves to keep the Roman outfit in the tie ahead of the second leg. But he was powerless on 71 minutes, as Brazilian midfielder Fred turned the game on its head with a moment of individual brilliance.
Roma midfielder Strooman hacked down Marlos as he cut in from the right flank, the referee awarding a free kick just outside the area.
Up stepped Fred, striking the ball with the instep and crashing it into the underside of the crossbar, the ball ricocheting venomously into the back of the net. It was a goal worthy of winning any tie, and further evidence as to why Pep Guardiola has supposedly taken such a fancy to the Brazilian.
Big players step up in big moments, as that's what Fred did last night.
But Roma does possess a valuable away goal, and the tie appears finely poised for the second leg in Rome. Donetsk may just need an encore from their Brazilian talisman as they search for a place in the quarter-finals.
