1985 | The final of the 32nd Albanian “Republic Cup” in Football!
Pages from the Albanian newspaper “Sporti Popullor”
“Flamurtari” – A new, well-deserved name among the winners!
The premiere of the big final Partizani – Flamurtari !
This was the final where Partizani – Flamurtari met for the first time. This was a premiere of the Cup of the Republic, the final of which was attended on February 8 at the “Labinoti” stadium by Elbasan sports fans. 8 months ago, in this stadium, they welcomed their football players to receive the national championship cup.
Now the winner will not be their team, but it’s still nice even like this, it makes sense. In any case, the sympathy for football should not be focused only on the team of your city. It should be wider, deeper, as is this attractive sport itself. Partizani and Flamurtari come to this final after leaving behind three teams each.
Even in the third round, they triumphed over two rivals that many thought were finalists: “17 Nentori” and “Vllaznia”. The first after 27 games was forced to accept the first defeat. A whole year without defeat!
“17 Nentori” thus ended a cycle, maybe to continue another one, already convinced that for these two special matches he had not made special preparations and that he might have had a prejudice about the strength of Partizan. Vllaznia, who within a week had to travel 500 km from Vlore to Shkoder and back, happened to him like two years ago (precisely 0-1 in Vlora and 2-1 in Shkoder), and even happened to him as usual in the decade of last.
So, as many times as Dinamo and Vllaznia have been defeated hard to eliminate one – the other, in the subsequent tournaments they have not had the strength to fight for the Cup win.
Let’s move on to those who were known to win. Partisan – Flamurtari. It is these two teams that have given a meaningful tactical example, especially Partizan. While Flamurtari above all appreciated the goal of the “opposing” field, whose “victims” fell to Apolonia and Vllaznia, he compared the technical game to the coolness of a football where nerves are controlled. In this way, we want to guess the final of Elbasan in a way.
Flamurtari, finalist for the 4th time and never winner of the Cup, will face Partizan for the 17th time finalist and winner of all 11 cups. In the 8 editions that have met each other, Partizan has eliminated Flamurtari 6 times, but this one reminds you that for the last time, in 1984, it was he who eliminated Partizan (2-0, 1-1). And this Partizan comes to the final after 5 years (since 1980), while Flamurtari has been a finalist for three years in a row. “True third”! But we have seen how harmful prejudices are. Only strength, preparation, powerful football with high morale, gives you victory!
Who will be the referee for this final?
It will speak for itself . Meanwhile, let’s remember that some prominent teams and players of our current football were forced to give way to two teams and players no less prominent than them: Partizani – Flamurtari. Many players of “Kombetare” (National Team) and “Shpresa” (U21) have been left out of this final, it is even more important that they recognize some flaws in themselves for the improvement of which they will fight hard these days.
This Cup, which is somewhat faster than the others, with lightning-fast developments, remains undoubtedly quite attractive as we hope it will bring us an equally pleasant finale. We must congratulate the two debuting coaches, 35-year-old Gjergji Thaka and 32-year-old Leonidha Curri, who graduated from our Higher Institute “Vojo Kushi”, well-known footballers of our Hope of the 70s, who are starting their beautiful and difficult profession to the coach.
SEMIFINALS
How would the meeting of January 30 continue?
Partizani – 17 Nentori with 0-0 first, many things were left open. They still had their say on the quality of the game. The first semi-final match was somewhat cold, although in the tactical plan some actions were of interest. Partizani has merit for this. Indeed, from the outside, his game looked very far behind, but in certain episodes, to the surprise of the “opponent”, attackers Kushta and Agalliu appeared very close to Mersini. Partizan had relied on the weapon of surprise while on “17 Nentori” they played with some self-confidence.
Here is the chronicle, not so rich, of the first meeting. This is where the long-awaited prediction begins with a question: “Who will be the finalist?”
The meeting on February 3 started quickly as if to overturn the image left by the first semi-final match. “17 Nentori”, this time it seems like he wants to play. Muca has an opinion not without interest to take out his direct cover Hysin in those areas where he sees him triumphing as an individual, but which allowed his friends room to maneuver. An attractive solution! But that doesn’t last long, because Muca remains alone and Partizan is very precise in the scheme he built, and for which he worked: no cracks in defense.
This was also the link that Partizan made to the two meetings, on January 30 and February 3. In a close look at Partizan’s game, you can argue that it gave ground to the opponent by waiting for him in his half-field. In a way, this tactic against “17 Nentori”, currently in a good condition, has provided Partizan with the advantage: full control of the midfield that defends and attacks.
“17 Nentori”, only the numerical superiority in his defense is left. This team looked at the two opposing strikers between Omuri, Hodja, Lekbello and Bimo. Such an alignment of forces damaged the 17 Nentori, somewhat reducing his attention. You can feel yourself stronger, but the rule of the Cup with quick matches does not allow you to correct mistakes. In the multitude of actions Tirana, he failed to see that Partizan was leading the game where he wanted. He had won the tough duel of the first few minutes, he saw, but failed to fully utilize, the empty area on the right side of the 17 Nentori defense and tried to hit there twice. Alfons Muca feels the lack of experience.
A lost chance, which is followed by a second one by Kushta, while Tirana it seems to be relieved by Minge’s pillar and a more intuitive action by Mema. It gets easier and is equalized on occasion, but the game between the two semi-finalists only comes and separates to deepen after the break. On the one hand, the rigorous accuracy of Partizan’s actions, which the other fails to understand, is dangerous.
Here it seems that the objective assessment of “17 Nentori” for Partizan was missing. And the consequences come. He scored the first goal, where Hodja’s hesitation was met by Kushta, he went back as much as he could to score another 3-4 goals and in the end he was forced to accept a convincing defeat 0-2 “in his field”.
Partizani thought the victory with a simple game. He did it and this is where his credit lies. “17 Nentori”, he removed his weapon from the fast game. Everyone learns from this battle, not without tactical value, first of all on “17 Nentori” and others.
Once again, the second meeting valid for the semi-finals, Vllaznia started with a lead. When it was thought that Flamurtari was playing in front of her, coming into this meeting with 1-0, it seemed that the qualification of Vllaznise would not be so difficult. In that sporting environment that was created in Shkoder in such defining meetings, the local team has an encouragement that gives you support and numbs the opponent. without doing well the first visits to the gates of Birce and Kusha, Vukatana in the role of the first violin, shows the ability to create difficult situations for friendly defense and facilitating for his fellow attackers. Xhani, 18 years old, in that determined effort of his, with the ball from Vukatane defeats Birce and the Volon defenders who seek to find the ball, but who see it behind their backs in the net.
Within 9 minutes, Luci, one of the best in the field, takes a favorite action: a long and vigorous step. The defenders of Flamurtari have a hard time controlling him, and in the end they make a mistake by being penalized with 11 meters. Luci himself performs as the protagonist, always unerring in such shots. 2-0 for 14 minutes!
And Vllaznia seemed confident in these qualification numbers. But Flamurtari, although hit hard, still does not give up on his goal to be a finalist. They are discovered quickly and the abilities of Ferko, Gjondeda and Zijai in the midfield stand out. The Valona team starts to attack quietly and without noise, laying out the game to give it life and beauty.
Their devious actions, to seek the so-called qualifying goal, are successfully realized. After that dry shot by Ferko and such a beautiful reception by Kushe, the ball returned to the penalty area by V. Ruci, Bubeqi just caressed it with his head, to leave Kushe surprised.
The result of the first part does not change in the second, as there is no climax. 2-1, the 90 minutes are over. Although Luci fights with all his strength, he is not supported by his friends. Vllaznise’s game falls off the level, as the midfield with Rragami in charge is not confident in its actions. Rather, the viewers expected faster, more studied substitutions, exactly in the middle of the field where the trio had been chosen beautifully as names, but which did not justify its task.
Therefore, they rightly ask: What about the titular players of the “Shpresa” national team, such as Briza and Pashaj or others, why were they not activated in the first team, even at certain moments? How does a player play with the team “Shpresa” when he is not active with his team? It may be the fault of the player himself, who perhaps does not make much effort, but however his coach in the given case, R. Rragami, never escapes responsibility.
The form of the players of the national teams is not a little, even in the hands of the coaches of the clubs, that this responsibility should be strongly felt. Flamurtari deserved to be finalist. He played in Shkoder, even better than in his field, where in front of the unstable formation of Shkodra, he came with the same 11 players who did not move from the posts, but so harmonized.
This team was able to justify this success, as it has a strong defense with Cipi at the head, a midfield where Ferko stands out and an attack where the striking point is not only V. Ruci but also Bubeqi.
GRAND FINALE
The “Labinoti” stadium of the city of Elbasan and the reigning champions, last week again experienced a beautiful sports celebration. The afternoon of February 8th reminded us of May 20th last year, when Labinoti was declared national champion for the first time in front of his sports fans. And precisely in this stadium, after 8 months, another well-known team of our country for its beautiful and attacking football, Flamurtari also for the first time achieved a national success by winning the Cup of the Republic for 1985. Thus, a name of new among the winners in our football, something that shows its development in an ever wider qualitative scope. This is a beautiful and long-awaited victory in Vlora, even though Flagurtari, two times runner-up of the country and three other cup finalists, has in its history significant footballing events and even victories in international meetings. But he had never known the joy of such a success before. He was close to winning the championship title and the Republic Cup, but without winning them.
Therefore, Friday’s meeting in Elbasan, this time against Partizan, was another test, this time for a rejuvenated team. Besides Cip, P. Ruci, V. Ruci, Taho, Zijajit e Gjondede, Bubeqi, Lushaj, Birce, Ferko, and the young man who has not yet turned 18, Ziu, also play.
And Flamurtari is the winner of the 32nd Cup of the Republic. He deserved the victory because he solved the development of this final meeting better in the technical-tactical plan. Knowing Partizan’s game, the team’s coaches Leonidha Curri and Skender Elmazi built an appropriate scheme that ensured the defense, that closed the free areas for Partizan’s attackers and gave the game an attacking character. Facing a 4-4-2 alignment of Partizan, Flamurtari combined the 4-3-3 and 3-4-3 scheme, creating a superiority of forces in the middle of the field, where he ensured complete superiority over the opponent. While against an immovable defense with 4 players of the other finalist, Flamurtari used well the game on the side with bursts in the center.
The combinations of midfielders and wing forwards created mobile and dangerous pairs such as Ferko, Ziu and Gjondeda – V. Ruci that brought Partizan into the area of danger and situations to note. It is this tactical pan that at first seems a bit slow for the winners, but over time, through a clear attacking thought, it makes the game take on an emotional look and color.
After the 15th minute, Flamurtari plays well in attack, circulates the ball accurately and quickly, and thanks to a general mobilization of the entire 11, creates difficult situations in the goal of Partizan, which looks somewhat tired and self-confidence and in the 34th minute he defeated him. It was a powerful burst by Ferko from the right, a cross into the area and Bubeqi gives a precise ball to V. Ruci who makes a flying shot scoring that beautiful goal. And 1-0 frees Flamurtari from emotions. He is put in search of the second securing goal. Yes, he is wrong in these cases. Partizan organizes its characteristic and well-known counterattack with Agalliu, this passes in the area and Hametaj makes no mistake. With a shot, Tokazi equalizes the score 1-1. This is a goal with special values, because the two teams have a starting point: in the fight to win the Cup in equal condition. But after the break, Flagurtari did not reduce the demands of his game, mobilized even in attack. And here. Ferko’s burst, Ziu’s beautiful move that draws Ocelli and Ferko has a free zone towards Musta. He shoots hard but Musta punches. Exciting cast, a difficult situation that is masterfully solved by Bubeqi, who follows the action and cleverly intervenes and hits the ball with force for the second time in the net of Muste, 2-1.
After the goal, Flamurtari, thinking about the cup, as well as to avoid mistakes after the first goal, builds a game with more passes, to calm him down. While Partizani is now trying to get out of his zone and look more towards the attack. And it was very close to Kushta’s equalizer that wins an 11-meter. But Hametaj makes a mistake in his execution when he sends the ball outside the square of Birce’s goal. After this episode, Flamurtari goes on the attack again, but organized and completely different from Partizan. And in these pictures of the attack and the counterattack, the referee Dhori Pritfti blows the whistle for the end of the final meeting of the 32nd Cup of the Republic. This is how Flamurtari managed to win the first Cup, which created enthusiasm among the sports fans of Vlora, who welcomed the winning team with songs and joy. And this is natural, it has been so long that a Cup was expected from a team that plays beautiful, attractive football like Flagurtari. Note: It was the first final of a Cup that was broadcast directly by TVSH.
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Sports Vision +/ The Hour of Champions
Reference: “Sporti Popullor” February 5, 1985 – Personal Collection
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