Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 Young Boys: First-half comeback gives hosts Champions League hope

Shakhtar Donetsk staged a quick first-half comeback to earn a 2-1 home victory over Young Boys in their Champions League clash on Wednesday.

Both sides entered the game winless, and Young Boys grabbed the lead in the 27th minute when Kastriot Imeri struck from close range.

But Shakhtar responded swiftly in Gelsenkirchen as Oleksandr Zubkov tapped in four minutes later to restore parity.

And Heorhii Sudakov, who teed up the equaliser, then put Shakhtar ahead four minutes before the interval, with that goal proving enough to take maximum points.

Shakhtar now have four for the campaign, while Young Boys are still waiting on their first point after four straight defeat to begin the campaign.

Data Debrief: Breakthroughs at last on matchday four

Not only were both teams looking for their first wins on Wednesday, neither had even found the net.

Imeri broke Young Boys’ duck with their 40th shot of the campaign, but the lead was short-lived as Shakhtar’s 25th attempt of the season brought them level.

The Ukrainian outfit went on to register their third Champions League home win in four matches as they pursue a place in the play-off round, while Young Boys are really up against it.

They have not won any of their 11 away games in the competition and must surely end that run against Stuttgart or Celtic to have any hope of advancing.