Kauan Elias found himself in the right place at the right time to score a crucial goal that helped "Shakhtar" secure a 2-0 victory against "Besiktas" in the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round return leg.
"The team gave their maximum effort until the final whistle. It was pleasant to see the teamwork and synergy we demonstrated on the field with a desire to achieve victory. Most importantly, we pleased the fans with an important result," – Elias shared after the match.
Kauan Elias described his goal as the result of excellent interaction with his teammate. He credited Tobias for creating "true art" on the flank before he simply finished the chance. The Brazilian forward admitted he was thrilled to score in such a crucial moment, with his celebration being a pure expression of emotions.
The Ukrainian side faced significant resistance from their Turkish opponents. "Besiktas" proved to be a qualified adversary with impressive ball control, creating several dangerous moments during the match. Despite the quality of individual players in the Turkish squad, "Shakhtar" managed to neutralize their strengths effectively.
Interestingly, the atmosphere at the stadium played a crucial role in motivating the players. Elias highlighted how both home and away fans created an electric environment.
"I'm very happy that we were welcomed truly like at home. There were many Ukrainian supporters, and the away fans were also loud today. As we know, football is a game of emotions, and we play for the fans, so it's nice that they were able to inspire us, and we gave them a good game," – the forward explained.
With this victory, "Shakhtar" progresses further in their European campaign. Can they maintain this momentum in the next round? Their performance against "Besiktas" certainly suggests they have the quality to make a significant impact in this season's Europa League.
