Shakhtar survive late scare against AZ to get into Conference League semis

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/az-alkmaar/2RxOow1i/"]AZ[/a] interim manager Lee-Roy Echtold chose a different XI from last week's 3-0 defeat, making six changes as the Alkmaar outfit are set to play [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nijmegen/nRluRF0T/"]NEC Nijmegen[/a] in Sunday's KNVB Beker final.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/shakhtar/4ENWX2OA/"]Shakhtar[/a]’s dominant display in Krakow last week put them in total control of this tie, leaving AZ needing one of the great European comebacks on home soil to progress.[/p][p]However, they were unable to make any vital early inroads into the deficit facing them, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/meerdink-mexx/OjqNXAED/"]Mexx Meerdink[/a] having his side’s first and only shot on target of the first period shortly before the quarter-hour mark when he directed an effort straight into [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/riznyk-dmytro/b3DGuTi6/"]Dmytro Riznyk[/a]’s arms. And while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sadiq-ibrahim/rZHJ1HWd/"]Ibrahim Sadiq[/a] was inches away from finding the far corner when heading across goal from the back post just before the break, he couldn’t force the Ukrainian shot-stopper into action.[/p][p]AZ were, at least, more competitive than they had been in the first leg at this point, but the visitors still found themselves in dangerous positions on numerous occasions as they threatened on the counter. Yet, with no pressure to score given their large lead, they lacked the required concentration and application in the final third.[/p][embed guid="e2b455c3-1075-4d7c-96e4-6480c70c0052" url="https://x.com/Conf_League/status/2044846343236034767?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]After the restart, Shakhtar appeared to have gone up a gear, eager to extinguish any remaining AZ hopes of a last-four berth.[/p][p][b]It seemed like only a matter of time before one of the Ukrainian outfit’s breaks led to the opener, and it eventually came just before the hour mark, when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alisson-santana/EXtwTHpB/"]Alisson Santana[/a] – who scored twice in the first leg – found the net once more, slotting [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kaua-elias/nm1DFlyI/"]Kauã Elias[/a]’ pass into the bottom corner. [/b][/p][p][b]There was, at least, something for the home supporters to celebrate midway through the half as they pulled level on the net through [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jensen-isak/QRPVnJsE/"]Isak Jensen[/a]’s lovely close-range free-kick that flew in off the post.[/b][/p][embed guid="9df71949-d201-419a-ac7c-b5cceb358c4b" url="https://x.com/FCShakhtar_eng/status/2044848730310910269?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]They were out of their seats again not long after courtesy of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sin-matej/b7OtRKCt/"]Matěj Šín[/a]'s well-struck volley into the bottom corner, setting up an intriguing final 10 minutes as AZ pushed forward.[/b][/p][p][b]In the end, though, their mini-comeback proved to be too little, too late, and Shakhtar even struck back to secure a draw on the night when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/luca-meirelles/2XbMVgK5/"]Luca Meirelles[/a] slotted through [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zoet-jeroen/IDI0wVTT/"]Jeroen Zoet[/a]’s leg to finish another quick break.[/b][/p][p]Once again, the Miners proved difficult to beat on the road in this season’s competition, with them now unbeaten in all six away UECL encounters. AZ, meanwhile, will at least be pleased with their performance here despite elimination, and they will now turn their attention to the weekend’s KNVB Cup final against NEC Nijmegen, where a win would see them qualify for the UEFA Europa League.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ederson/UDODA71I/"]Allison Santana[/a] (Shakhtar Donetsk)[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/az-alkmaar-2RxOow1i/shakhtar-donetsk-4ENWX2OA/?mid=dYZxV0nC"]Check out the full match statistics on Flashscore[/a][/b][/p][image alt="Key match stats" id="82b632bb-4b04-4d61-ab42-11ed2872d667" credit-line="Opta via StatsPerform" guid="12427053-113c-4995-a058-c635670883a7" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /]