Shakhtar edge past Monaco into Champions League group stage

The second match of this year’s Champions League play-off qualifiers saw Shakhtar draw 2:2 against Monaco in a dramatic thriller, ultimately making their way forward thanks to an aggregate score as the team had won the away match 0:1, Ukrinform reports.

Shakhtar’s home match was hosted by Kharkiv as the Donetsk-based club has long been displaced due to an ongoing conflict with the Russian-contrled forces in eastern Ukraine.

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Monaco dominated throughout the first half, with Wissam Ben Yedder scoring twice before Marlos reduced the gap to one goal to ensure that the two teams crawl into an extra time.

In extra time, an own goal by Monaco defender Ruben Aguilar in 114th.

In other matches of the playoff qualification round RB Salzburg beat Brondby (2:1 and 2:1), and Sheriff (Mdova) defeated Dynamo Zagreb on aggregate (3:0 and 0:0), sealing a historic Champions League appearance for their country, which became the 34th participant in the competition.

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