By Samindra Kunti in Antwerp
October 5 – On a night of high and low emotions in the Champions League, Newcastle United spectacularly overcame star-studded PSG 4-1 at an electric St James Park, while Belgian champions Antwerp failed to win their first-ever UCL match after giving away a two-goal lead on home soil in a 3-2 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine.
In Group H, the Belgians debuted with a humiliating 5-0 defeat against Barcelona in Camp Nou and seemed on the way to their first-ever Champions League victory with first-half goals from Arbnor Muja and Michel Balikwisha.
They learned once again that Europe’s elite club competition is unforgiving when goalkeeper Jean Butez blundered in the second half to hand Donetsk’s the winning goal.
It was a game of two halves with the hosts enjoying an oustanding first stanza. Twice, Arthur Vermeeren assisted the goals, confirming his status as Antwerp’s midfield leader and one of Belgium’s brightest talents.
Struggling to find the back of the net in the domestic league, Antwerp wasted no time against their Ukrainian visitors when Vermeeren stole possession around Donetsk’s box to tee up Arbnor Muja, whose cool finish left Dmytro Riznyk no chance in the third minute.
Vermeeren kept scanning the field and provided a defense-splitting pass that Balikwisha converted with a curl to the far post after the half-hour mark.
Danylo Sikan’s strike straight after the restart handed Donetsk a lifeline and changed the dynamics of the match, Antwerp appearing jittery all of a sudden. In the 70th minute, Yaroslav Rakitski drew level with a deflected free kick. Sikan then got his second pouncing on a blunder of Butez.
With the last kick of the game, veteran defender Toby Alderweireld could have salvaged a point from the penalty spot, but his spot kick failed to find the target. It leaves Antwerp bottom of the table. They host Porto next on October 25.
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