Controversy in Copenhagen sees Shakhtar labeled bandits
- by Samuel Charles @SoccerIsArt, Nov 21, 2012
[VIDEO PICK: Off the Post] Luiz Adriano overshadowed his team's progression in the Champions League with a dubious goal that enraged FC
Nordsjaelland players and coaches in Shakhtar Dontesk’s 5-2 win at Copenhagen.
Adriano’s first goal tainted his hat trick on Tuesday, and Shakthar's progression from Group E.
It came in the 26th minute by stealing his teammate's pass back to the Nordsjaelland keeper, from a drop-ball after an injury, and tied the game at 1-1. Chaos ensued.
"I don't know if
Shakhtar are bandits, but some of their players, bosses and coaches are without morals," Nordsjaelland coach Kasper Hjulmand said.
A few visiting players appeared to want
to let FCN score, but Nordsjaelland took the lead again, without help, less than three minutes later. "We wanted to let them score, there was big confusion in the team ...” Shakthar’s
coach Mircea Lucescu said, “... after 2-1 we started to play soccer. It's a pity that this happened. I'm sorry."
Midfielder Soren Christensen
confronted Lucescu: "Some bad words were said – let us just say that we didn't agree.”
FCN’s captain Nicolai Stokholm said, "We thought that they would
give us a goal. Half their team seemed to think so too but the other half didn't."
Here’s how it all started. Willian agrees to play the ball back, but his fellow
Brazilian has other ideas…
He should have been cautioned by the referee for unsporting behavior. There is no clearer example of this than doing what Luiz Adriano did. It did not violate any of the other Laws of the Game but once he made the decision to score the goal, he was guilty of unsporting behavior. He is lucky he made it down the tunnel to the dressing room in one piece.
In my days of playing, that lad would have seen some cleats before the end of the game...
No question as to BAD sportsmanship on ONE player. However the situation could have been EASILY fixed if a goal had been allowed on kickoff. Now the WHOLE team looks bad for not doing the right thing.
Jack, I'm glad you are not playing:) Why add a red card and be judged at the same level!?
Agree with JS ... after the goal, the matter can be fixed immediately by allowing a goal the other way ... shame on the Shakthar = players & manager. Agree also with SR ... yellow card clearly warranted
Actually gents, giving the goal back at kickoff does not fully rectify the problem due to the away goal rule. While it is not the first tie breaker during the Group Stage, it is potentially used down the line as a way to break the tie ;)