Copenhagen: Shakhtar Donetsk advanced to the knockout stage of the Champions League after winning 5-2 at FC Nordsjaelland following a hat trick by Luiz Adriano and two goals by Willian on Tuesday. The Ukrainian club lead the group with 10 points, one more than Juventus and three in front of Chelsea. Shakhtar can't be overtaken by Chelsea because they have scored more head-to-head away goals.
Nordsjaelland took the lead in the 24th minute through Morten Nordstrand, but Shakhtar equalized two minutes later in a contentious moment that enraged the crowd. Willian kicked the ball downfield after an uncontested drop ball toward Nordsjaelland box and with the hosts' defenders walking slowly to the ball. But Adriano raced through to take possession and round the puzzled goalkeeper to score with the home team watching on.
The goal was given despite vociferous protests by Nordsjaelland's players and the furious home crowd. An attempt for Nordsjaelland to walk the ball into Shakhtar's net to cancel out the goal was stopped by a visiting defender, further enraging the host and crowd. Kasper Lorentzen, however, put Nordsjaelland ahead again in the 29th to the delight of the local supporters. But the lead didn't last for long — Willian scored from a rebound in the 44th and added another in the 50th, while Adriano found the net in the 53rd and 81st to complete his hat trick.
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