19 October 2006, by Sean Gillen

Valencia ease to third straight win

Valencia 2-0 Shakhtar Donetsk

Valencia’s impressive start to the new season continued as two goals from star striker David Villa was enough to see off Ukrainian league leaders Shahktar Donetsk at the Mestalla in Group D. Villa scored two first half goals as Los Ches made it three wins from three to edge a step closer to early qualification.

Portuguese right-back Miguel took his place in the home side’s defence, and the former Benfica man was part of an excellent team performance, with Shakhtar also contributing to an open game.

Spanish international Villa got his first on the half hour mark when he took advantage of some sloppy defending from Brazilian Leonardo to win possession and round goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa before slotting home.

Villa’s second was set up by summer signing Joaquin, who had a lively evening on the right wing for the Spaniards. The former Betis winger crossed to the back post and Villa found himself unmarked and free to head into an empty net for his sixth goal of the season.

Hugo Viana was selected for a place on the bench, but the Portuguese midfielder was again left disappointed, as he wasn’t called upon by Valencia coach Quiqe Sanchez Flores. Shakhtar had defender Viacheslav Sviderski sent off late on for a second yellow card offence.

After the match Flores admitted that finishing top of their group, ahead of Roma, was fast becoming the team’s main priority: “We are now very close to qualifying and we want to make sure we retain first place,” said Flores.

“This was a harder match than it might have appeared and it cost us a lot of hard work to get the breakthrough, but once we got it then we stayed in charge.”

“Shakhtar are a better side than their results make them appear, but we deserve credit for the way we kept them under control. We still have to go to Ukraine and that will be a tough match, as they are bound to be more attacking in their approach.”

Before Valencia’s next match in the Ukraine in two weeks, they resume their La Liga challenge with a home clash with Osasuna this weekend.

Valencia:
Canizares, Miguel, Navarro, Moretti, Albiol, Albelda, Edu (Lopez, 52), Joaquin, Vicente, Regueiro (Gavilan, 64), Morientes, Villa (Silva, 76)
Yellow Cards: Albelda (43)

Shakhtar Donetsk:
Pletikosa, Sviderski, Chigrinski, Rat, Leonardo, Tymoschuk, Matuzalem, Fernandinho (Vorobei, 83), Jadson (Hubschman, 55), Marica, Aghahowa (Brandao, 55)
Yellow Cards: Sviderski (1 & 76), Tymoschuk (34), Marica (57), Brandao (62)

Goals:
[1-0] Villa, 30
[2-0] Villa, 45