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Shakhtar Donetsk defeats AEK Athens 3-1 in Champions League comeback
Shakhtar Donetsk secured a 3-1 comeback victory against AEK Athens in their second Champions League League Phase match, held at Stamford Bridge in London. AEK took an early lead in the 28th minute through a goal by Lovro Majer, following an assist from Stavros Pylios. However, Shakhtar responded before halftime when Pedrinho converted a penalty in the 34th minute, a decision that AEK manager Marko Nikolic criticized as controversial.
In the second half, Shakhtar intensified their pressure. Vinicius Tobias scored in the 80th minute to give the Ukrainian side the lead, followed by a decisive goal from Venezuelan attacker Gleiker Mendoza in the 86th minute. Mendoza, who entered the match as a substitute in the 63rd minute, marked his second goal in the competition.
The defeat impacts Greece's standing in the UEFA coefficient rankings, as AEK was unable to secure the points needed to help Greece climb into the top 10. AEK now prepares for a match against Manchester City, while Shakhtar Donetsk looks ahead to facing Inter Milan.
Entities
AEK Athens · AEK Athens FC · Gleiker Mendoza · Luka Jović · Marco Nikolic · Marko Nikolić · Shakhtar Donetsk · Stamford Bridge · UEFA