Taras Stepanenko is delighted Shakhtar shut the doubters down by sealing a point against Celtic and giving themselves a fighting chance of Champions League progress.
The worst case scenario for the Ukrainians is now a third-place finish and Europa League football in the New Year after Mykhailo Mudryk's stunner cancelled out Giorgos Giakoumakis ' opener. They should have won it after Danylo Sikan missed a sitter but it was ultimately a hard-fought draw at Parkhead against Ange Postecoglou' s team who had them clinging on in the early stages.
Stepanenko knows his team were in a game and two draws with Celtic have helped their cause as they now face Leipzig on matchday six knowing a win will send them through. And the Ukraine veteran, who has more than 70 caps for his country, reckons his side have surprised a lot of people who had written them off before a ball was kicked.