Shakhtar Donetsk upset the applecart as they qualified for the UEFA Champions League knockout stages with a 2-1 victory over Manchester City at the Metalist Stadium on Wednesday.
Pep Guardiola’s side had already booked their place in the last-16 as Group F winners, but second place was still up for grabs, with the Miners needing at least a draw to progress.
But two first-half goals from Bernard and Ismaily inflicted a first defeat of the season on the Citizens, who scored a late consolation with Sergio Aguero’s penalty.
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The hosts bossed the first half in Kharkiv and they were asking questions of the City defence after just three minutes when Facundo Ferreyra latched onto a loose ball and played in Taison, who fired over from 20 yards out.
The Miners’ bright opening continued as Marlos tested Ederson with a curling effort from inside the box on the right that the Brazilian keeper gathered at second attempt on 21 minutes.
Paulo Fonseca’s team took the lead five minutes later when Bernard curled the ball into the top-right corner of the net after being allowed too much space inside the area on the left.
Bernard went close again on 29 minutes after being played in on the left by Taison, but his first-time strike was saved by Ederson, who was culpable for Shakhtar’s second goal two minutes later.
Taison released Ismaily down the left channel and the Brazilian beat Ederson to the ball before tucking into an open net.
City’s first opportunity fell to Ben Foden on 36 minutes, but he could only steer Leroy Sane’s firm cut-back pass well over the crossbar, while Fred saw Eliaquim Mangala block his shot at the back post four minutes later before the Brazilian striker blasted over from distance soon afterwards.
The Premier League leaders’ best chance arrived three minutes before half-time when Foden played in Gabriel Jesus on the left, but Andrij Pyatov made a brave save at his feet on the slide.
Taison was inches away from making it 3-0 moments later as he skipped past two challenges before curling the ball just over the target from 18 yards out, while Ferreyra turned on a pass from the Brazilian midfielder to make space for a shot inside the box that lacked the power to beat Ederson on 44 minutes.
The visitors almost pulled one back in the opening minute of the second half as Bernardo Silva’s cross from the right was met by Sane, whose first-time shot was held by Pyatov.
But Shakhtar continued to dictate play and Taison lashed a shot over from 16 yards out in the 52nd minute, although Fernandinho had a good chance at the other end three minutes later when he headed wide at the back post from Silva’s cross.
Taison looked determined to get his name on the scoresheet as he shifted the ball to his right and flashed an effort just wide of the right post from 19 yards out on 74 minutes, while Yaroslav Rakitskiy curled a 30-yard free-kick into Ederson’s arms two minutes later.
Late pressure from City saw Jesus hit the near post from point-blank range after good work from Brahim Diaz on the left to set him up on 79 minutes, before Yaya Toure curled a left-footed shot wide of the left post from 20 yards out in the 81st minute.
City did manage to halve the deficit in stoppage time when they were awarded a penalty for Bohdan Butko’s foul on Jesus, with Aguero converting from the spot.
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