Shakhtar Donetsk left it late to turn a closely contested UEFA Champions League fixture into three points, beating AEK Athens 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, October 14. Vinicius Augusto struck in the 80th minute before substitute Gleiker Mendoza added another in the 86th, settling a league-phase encounter that had remained level since before half-time.

AEK had taken the lead through Lovro Majer in the 28th minute, only for Pedrinho to equalise from the penalty spot six minutes later. With neither side finding another breakthrough until the closing stages, a draw remained a genuine possibility before Shakhtar delivered the decisive late goals.

Majer opens the scoring, Pedrinho responds

Majer’s 28th-minute opener gave AEK the advantage, but their lead lasted just six minutes. Pedrinho converted a penalty in the 34th minute to bring Shakhtar level, ensuring the teams went into the interval at 1-1.

There was little between the sides in the overall attacking numbers. AEK finished with 13 attempts to Shakhtar’s 12, although the Ukrainian side registered four shots on target against the visitors’ three. Shakhtar also held a modest possession advantage, with 54.5 percent of the ball.

Shakhtar find the late breakthrough

The second half brought a lengthy wait for the next goal. Bookings for Shakhtar’s Marlon Gomes in the 54th minute and AEK’s Razvan Marin in the 61st punctuated a contest that remained finely balanced heading into its final ten minutes.

Vinicius Augusto then changed the outcome with his 80th-minute goal, putting Shakhtar ahead for the first time. Six minutes later, Mendoza made his contribution from the bench count, finding the net in the 86th minute to extend the advantage to 3-1.

Those two late strikes gave the final result a more comfortable appearance than the preceding exchanges had suggested. AEK had stayed level for much of the evening, but Shakhtar’s finishing ultimately separated the sides.

Three points earned in the closing stages

Shakhtar ended the match with five corners to AEK’s two and, most importantly, three goals from four attempts on target. Their ability to turn the closing stages into a decisive spell secured the league-phase victory, while AEK were left to reflect on an early lead that slipped away.

Goals: Shakhtar Donetsk — Pedrinho (34′, penalty), Vinicius Augusto (80′), Gleiker Mendoza (86′). AEK Athens — Lovro Majer (28′).