Shakhtar Donetsk 2-2 Zenit St Petersburg: Points shared after thrilling contest in Ukraine

Zenit St Petersburg twice come from behind to draw with Shakhtar Donetsk at the Donbass Arena in what was a thrilling, end-to-end contest in Champions League Group G.

The Russian champions started the match the more impressive side, and could have taken the lead in the 10th minute when Viktor Fayzulin was fouled by Dmytro Chygrynskiy inside the area. But Roman Shirokov could not beat Oleksandr Rybka from the spot, the keeper diving low to his left to push the ball away.

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They were punished five minutes later, when Willian gave Shakhtar the lead with a sublime curling shot into the right hand corner of the goal that smashed in off the upright.

The Ukrainians were pegged back just after the half-hour mark, however. Roman Shirokov controlled a neat pass with his chest and knocked it past an oncoming Rykba, before converting from a tight angle.

Shakhtar then went in front again on the stroke of half time. Ravzan Rat sent a low ball into the area and found Luiz Adriano, who, with his back to goal, turned and slotted the ball past Malafeev.

Portuguese attacker Danny was the Russian outfit's best player throughout the first-half, setting up a number of chances, including Fayzulin’s 23rd minute attempt that hit the post. Although Shakhtar held more of the ball, it was Zenit who looked more threatening.

The home side came close to adding a third inside the first minute of the second half when Adriano almost got on the end of a Willian cross, but was denied by the Zenit defence. Three minutes later, captain Darijo Srna played a low ball to Jadson inside the area who blasted high over the bar.

At the other end, Bukharov and Danny came close with attempts inside the opening 10 minutes after the break, but it was Fayzulin who drew the game level for the Russians on the hour mark with a well-taken lob over the helpless Rykba after Oleksandr Chyzhov had cheaply given the ball away inside his own half.

Both sides continued their attacking plays but Zenit looked by far the more threatening as the game wore on. The Russians almost won the game with five minutes to go, when first-half goalscorer Shirokov had a close range shot blocked by some last ditch defending from Oleksandr Kucher.

A superb contest ultimately ended in a tie, and the sides will do it all again in Russia in two weeks time. Zenit will go into the match with a two-point lead over Shakhtar and will aim for a win to keep alive their chances of qualification, from what is becoming a congested group.