DONETSK, Ukraine // Lionel Messi scored twice in the final minutes to give Barcelona an unlikely 2-1 win away to Shakhtar Donetsk in their Champions League Group C match.
The Argentine equalised in the 87th minute then scored a brilliant chipped winner four minutes into stoppage time after Barca had looked on their way to defeat at the RSK Olympyiskyi stadium.
"We already know what Messi is capable of doing," a happy Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was quoted as saying by the Spanish daily Marca.
"Leo does the unexpected and is a very decisive player."
Barcelona lead the group with six points from two matches. Sporting, who beat Basel 2-0 in Lisbon, are equal with Shakhtar on three points and the Swiss side have none.
The Brazilian winger Ilsinho put Shakhtar ahead in the last minute of the first half when he ran on to Gerard Pique's poor attempt at a headed clearance, slipped between two defenders inside the box and confidently chipped over Victor Valdes.
Shakhtar had the better of the second half but a blunder by goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov in the 87th minute allowed the Spanish giants, who had lacked inspiration or penetration, back into the game.
Barcelona's young substitute forwards Messi and Bojan Krkic, who had come on for Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o, combined for the equaliser. Bojan crossed from deep on the right, Pyatov spilt the ball and Messi pounced to put it in the net.
Eto'o should have equalised shortly after the hour when he was put through by Messi but stumbled as he shaped to finish and placed the ball wide of the near post.
Shakhtar's Croatian captain Darijo Srna could have put the Ukrainian team two up in the 77th minute but his fierce shot from the right after a corner was parried away by Valdes.
The unimpressive Henry was replaced by Messi on the hour-mark after just one notable attempt at goal, a close shot saved instinctively by Pyatov.
The result will be a huge disappointment for Shakhtar, who started their group campaign with a 2-1 win away to Basel and had beaten Barca 2-0 the previous time the teams met in Donetsk in December 2004. Defeat adds to the woes of the Ukrainian champions who are a lowly 11th in the domestic league.
*Reuters
Bordeaux 1 Roma 3
CFR Cluj 0 Chelsea 0
Anorthosis Famagusta 3 Panathinaikos 1
Inter Milan 1 Werder Bremen 1
Shakhtar Donetsk 1 Barcelona 2
Sporting Lisbon 2 Basel 0
Atletico Madrid 2 Marseille 1
Liverpool 3 PSV Eindhoven 1
Dubai Rugby Sevens
November 30, December 1-2
International Vets
Christina Noble Children’s Foundation fixtures
Thursday, November 30:
10.20am, Pitch 3, v 100 World Legends Project
1.20pm, Pitch 4, v Malta Marauders
Friday, December 1:
9am, Pitch 4, v SBA Pirates
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
Scoreline:
Cardiff City 0
Liverpool 2
Wijnaldum 57', Milner 81' (pen)
What's in my pazhamkootan?
Add:
Parippu – moong dal and coconut curry
Sambar – vegetable-infused toor dal curry
Aviyal – mixed vegetables in thick coconut paste
Thoran – beans and other dry veggies with spiced coconut
Khichdi – lentil and rice porridge
Optional:
Kootukari – stew of black chickpeas, raw banana, yam and coconut paste
Olan – ash gourd curry with coconut milk
Pulissery – spiced buttermilk curry
Rasam – spice-infused soup with a tamarind base
Avoid:
Payasam – sweet vermicelli kheer
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The bio
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France
Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines
Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.
Favourite Author: My father for sure
Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst
Company profile
Company name: Fasset
Started: 2019
Founders: Mohammad Raafi Hossain, Daniel Ahmed
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $2.45 million
Current number of staff: 86
Investment stage: Pre-series B
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Little Brown Book Group
The five pillars of Islam
The Beach Bum
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Two stars
COMPANY PROFILE
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.