“Father against son...” – this main “highlight” of today's European cup clash between Donetsk “Shakhtar” and Romanian “Rapid” has been chewed over in every possible way throughout the past week in the pages of print media, on television screens, on radio waves and in conversations among fans of both teams... Everyone wanted to predict the course of events on the pitch of RSK “Olimpiyskyi,” because situations when sport brings father and son together are quite a rare sight. What's interesting is something else: not wishing to take unnecessary risks, two of Romania's largest bookmaking firms, according to “Sport-express,” stopped accepting bets on the Donetsk–Bucharest duel long before its start. Only one firm offered the possibility of betting on this match, but with noticeably changed odds: the coefficient for a draw dropped from 4.00 to 3.25... \n \nBe that as it may, the first half of this match was quite lively. Already in the 15th minute, the hosts' Brazilian legionnaire Elano missed a real opportunity to change the numbers on the scoreboard: for a foul against Matuzalem, the match referee Kerry Richards awarded a free kick toward “Rapid's” goal... It was Elano himself who decided to try his luck at taking this set piece, but his spectacular shot into the near top corner was “pulled out” by the visitors' goalkeeper Coman... \n \nSoon the same Brazilian directed the ball into the Romanians' net with a header, but with the same “success”: the goalkeeper easily took the leather ball “captive” in his gloves. \n\r\nThen Oleksiy Belik got a reason for disappointment: having received a pass from Elano (and again him!), the Ukrainian national team forward, as if on wings, rushed to meet Danut Coman, only suddenly Richards' assistant treacherously “signaled” a rather dubious “offside”... \n\r\nIt was precisely after this moment that the Romanians decided to somewhat neutralize the Donetsk side's territorial advantage: only by a miracle did Nicolae Constantin fail to hit Lashtuvka's goal from the edge of the penalty area (the ball slipped past the post). \n\r\nHowever, the 31-year-old defender did not stop there, finding himself in the center of attention twice over the next 10 minutes. First, his intentions were thwarted by Razvan Rat's leg, off which the leather ball left the field, and in the 34th minute it was Jan Lashtuvka's turn to “disarm” Nicolae: developed reflexes allowed the goalkeeper to beat the “Rapid” defender at the moment when he was preparing to meet a teammate's cross into “Shakhtar's” penalty area... \n\r\nIf you're going to play, then play! Apparently with that thought Constantin stubbornly and boldly stormed the Donetsk team's defense, so it's no wonder that even in the time added by the referee (added to the first half of the match) Nicolae once again made the hearts of local fans tremble: a shot from about 4 meters at “Shakhtar's” goal!!!..... and the ball leaves the field (Mariusz Lewandowski saw to it). \n\r\nDespite the high level of activity of the players of both clubs in the first half, it seemed that in the second part of the match their speed only increased. Chances (if not hundred-percent, then at least dangerous) arose synchronously near both goals. Lashtuvka tirelessly saved “Shakhtar,” while “Rapid” was probably lucky: either Belik would “launch” the leather ball over the crossbar, or Elano, having properly struck the spotted one, sends it straight into Coman's hands... \n\r\nThe 87th minute became the key one: Tymoshchuk is forced to kick the ball out for a corner after a long-range shot by a Romanian player... It turned out that this set piece would play a decisive role in the distribution of three points: after the corner was taken, Maldarasanu spectacularly “left Dulay with nothing,” a shot and... a goal... “Rapid” ahead – 1:0. That's exactly how it all ended. \n\r\nWell then, “Shakhtar” lost its first points in the group stage of the Champions League and now occupies second position in the standings. First is “Rapid,” third is “Stuttgart,” and each of these teams has 6 points to its credit. The distribution of places is determined by the overall goal difference. By the way, the Romanians have one game in hand. \n“PAOK” and “Rennes” have not earned a single point. \n\r\nUEFA Cup. Group stage. 3rd round. \n\r\n“SHAKHTAR” (DONETSK) – “RAPID” (BUCHAREST) – 0:1 \n\r\nGoal: Maldarasanu 88 \n\r\n"SHAKHTAR": Lashtuvka, Lewandowski, Hyubshman, Rats, Tymoshchuk (c), Matuzalem, Dulay, Elano (Zhadson 71), Belik, Stoykan (Srna 46), Agahowa (Fernandinho 55). \n\r\n"RAPID": Coman, Rade, Badoi, Karamyan (Perzha 82), Ilyes (Burduyan 77), Maldarasanu, Nicolae, Constantin M., Maftei (c), Constantin N. (Dike 52), Buga \n\r\n*** \n\r\nWin under any conditions and at any cost..... – such was the unambiguous task facing the Dnipropetrovsk side before the match of the third round, in which Bulgarian “Litex” was supposed to visit “Meteor.” 0 points after two played matches left our team at the bottom of group “D” and offered a rather illusory chance of continuing the fight for the prestigious trophy... \n\r\nAlready at the start of the meeting with the Bulgarians, the hosts received the opportunity to fulfill the task – at minimum: to score a quick goal. Already in the 5th minute of the duel, Rykun made a cross into the opponent's penalty area, Balabanov reached this ball, but... the visitors' goalkeeper Vitomir Vutov ruined all the Dnipropetrovsk side's plans by eliminating the threat. \n\r\nThe persistence of Tyshchenko's team soon again materialized into a “gift” from fortune: Nazarenko in the 17th minute came out one-on-one with the 33-year-old guardian of “Litex's” last line, however at the last moment Vitomir snatched the leather ball from under the Ukrainian's feet... \n\r\nQuite naturally, with such carelessness in finishing dangerous chances, one should expect a “counterstrike” from the opponent. And so it happened: in the middle of the first half, Novakovich seemed to be shooting point-blank at Kernozenko's goal, but the ball missed the post... \n\r\nIf the start of the match passed with a noticeable playing advantage for the Dnipropetrovsk team, then the start of the second part of the duel was marked by mutual attempts to score the first goal in the match no matter what. For the Bulgarians, Zlatinov missed a real chance to score (the “Dnipro” defenders eliminated the threat), while among the hosts, Kornylenko (the “Litex” defenders threw themselves in front of the shot) and Rykun (Vutov pulled the ball out of the lower corner) could have earned grateful applause from the home stands. \n\r\nThe already difficult situation in which our team found itself was further worsened by Radchenko's sending-off in the 60th minute of the match (for a second yellow card). \n\r\nAnd here it is... the dramatic 72nd... A cross to the far post of “Dnipro's” goal and a “timely” header by Novakovich – 1:0... The desire to preserve a chance of overcoming the group stage of the competition for the Dnipropetrovsk side turned into merely a flickering spark of uncertain hope... \n\r\nThe “control shot” was another goal scored: Nazarenko got on the scoresheet! Only he scored into his own goal, and in a rather simple situation (intercepting a not particularly dangerous cross from the flank...). Just like that – 2:0, “Litex” wins, and “Dnipro” bids farewell to this year's European cups. No, of course, it will still play one match of the group stage (next week it will visit Swiss “Grasshoppers”), but everyone knows one thing: the result of the upcoming game will not affect “Dnipro's” fate in any way... \n\r\nAs for the tournament standing in group “D,” first place is firmly held by “Middlesbrough,” which today played away to a draw with Dutch “AZ Alkmaar” (0:0). The English have 7 points. 6 points – for “Litex” (and a game in hand), 4 – for “AZ Alkmaar” (and again one match in addition). “Dnipro” and “Grasshoppers” have not a single point... \n\r\nUEFA Cup. Group stage. 3rd round. \n\r\n“DNIPRO” (DNIPROPETROVSK) – “LITEX” (BULGARIA) – 0:2 \n\r\nGoals: Novakovich 72, Nazarenko 90 (own goal) \n\r\n“DNIPRO”: Kernozenko, Lysytskyi, Yezerskyi, Radchenko, Rusol, Shelayev (Kornylenko 57), Rykun, Semochko, Kravchenko (Kostyshyn 73), Nazarenko, Balabanov (Hrytsai 65) \n\r\n“LITEX”: Vutov, Popov, Sychero, Vienkov, Kaie, Genchev, Yelenkovych, Zlatinov (Lyubenov 85), Berberovych, Korea (Palankov 89), Novakovich (Khazurov 90)