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Minnows Sheriff enjoy dream start to life in Champions League

SERGEI GAPON / AFP / Getty

Tiraspol, Moldova, Sept 15, 2021 (AFP) - Sheriff Tiraspol enjoyed a fairytale start to life in the Champions League on Wednesday as the club from a tiny separatist region of Moldova dished out a 2-0 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk.

Adama Traore and Momo Yansane scored the historic first ever goals of a club from the ex-Soviet country at the high table of the European game.

Having despatched the 13-time Ukrainian champions, Sheriff's adventure continues against continental giants Real Madrid and Inter Milan, who meet later Wednesday in Group D.

Although Sheriff play in the Moldovan league they are from Transnistria, a separatist state created after a brief civil war following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Malian winger Traore gave them the best possible start, scoring with a 16th-minute volley and Yansane sealed the show with a second-half header.

Founded in 1997, the young club based in the breakaway region's administrative hub, Tiraspol, have been on a steady climb into the limelight.

They have won six straight Moldovan league titles and 19 out of the last 21.

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