KHARKIV, Ukraine – Shakhtar Donetsk advanced to the knockout stage of the Champions League with a 2-1 victory over Manchester City on Wednesday, prompting the Ukrainian club”s coach to attend his media conference dressed as Zorro.
Paulo Fonseca appeared in a black hat, cape and mask after his team ended the English club’s unbeaten record in all competitions this season.
He was fulfilling a promise he’d made to dress up as the fictional swordsman if Shakhtar qualified from a group containing favorites City and Napoli.
“This is the most joyful press conference of my career,” Fonseca said.
“I feel great joy. I think not only Shakhtar’s supporters but all Ukrainians have to be proud of our team. Twelve points in such a group is fantastic.”
In freezing temperatures against a Shakhtar team that only needed a draw to be sure of qualifying, City struggled to cope with rapid counterattacks by the Ukrainian side’s Brazilian forwards.
Defeat means City, which had already qualified as Group F winner, failed to become only the seventh club in Champions League history to win every game in the group stage.
“We lose a game, it’s part of our profession,” City coach Pep Guardiola said.
“You cannot expect, as I’ve said many times all season, that we are going to win all the games. We are going to lose games, and today was the first.”
With one eye on Sunday’s Manchester derby, Guardiola gave starts to youngsters midfielder Phil Foden, who starred in England’s Under-17 World Cup triumph in October, and central defender Tosin Adarabioyo.
Shakhtar took the lead in the 26th minute when Bernard knifed his way in from the left and curled a shot inside the far post beyond the reach of goalkeeper Ederson.
Eight minutes later, Ederson was left helpless in a different way as Marlos passed into space behind the City defense.
Ismaily, already in behind rightback Danilo, sprinted to beat Ederson to the ball before rounding the Brazilian keeper and stroking home.
City earned a consolation goal in added time when Sergio Aguero scored from the penalty spot after Bogdan Butko brought down Gabriel Jesus.
It was City’s first competitive loss since being beaten by Arsenal in an FA Cup semifinal in April. City had been unbeaten in 28 games since then, 22 of them this season.
Dutch champion Feyenoord beat third-place Italian club Napoli 2-1 in the night’s other Group F game.
Associated Press
