Shakhtar Donetsk's players celebrate the goal scored by midfielder Fred (3L) during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Shaktar Donetsk and AS Rome at the OSK Metalist Stadion in Kharkiv. Pic/AFP

Shakhtar Donetsk fought back from a goal down as Fred's free-kick gave the Ukrainian champions a 2-1 victory over Roma on Wednesday in their Champions League last 16, first leg. Turkish youngster Cengiz Under marked his Champions League debut for Roma with a well-taken 41st-minute opener. But second-half strikes from Facundo Ferreyra and Fred left the tie finely balanced ahead of the return game at the Stadio Olimpico in three weeks' time. Roma, looking to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in 10 years, started brightly while Shakhtar, who only returned to competitive action last weekend after the winter break, left the visitors too much space in midfield. The Italians had a chance to go ahead in the sixth minute, but goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov saved well to deny Edin Dzeko.