(VIDEO) 1985-1986 UEFA Cup | Dinamo – Sporting Lisbon!

1985-1986 UEFA Cup | Dinamo – Sporting 0-0!
Highlight of a good match that lacked victory.

Tirana: Wednesday, October 23, 1985

The first match of the second round. National Stadium “Qemal Stafa”
Spectators : 11,000
Referees: Petrescu, Matu, Stanisku – Romania
DINAMO: Luarasi – Stafa, Ndreu, Targaj, Kuqi – Canaj, Demollari, Imami, Marko – Vila (38` Topciu),
Abazi Tr . Fatmir Frasheri
SPORTING: Damash – Gabriel, Venancio, Morato, F. Mendes – Litos, M. Zhorzhe, (64`Soseda), Paceko, Suza – D. Fernandez, Zhordao, (64`Ociano) Tr . Manuel Zhoze

Dinamo played a good game against Sporting. A strong game, rich in actions, chances, shootings, reception of the Portuguese goalkeeper Damash, and above all with an advanced level of football. Regardless of the result, Dinamo’s game bore the stamp of the football of the time. And we must be sorry, when this game does not enjoy the fruit. A 0-0, after that long duel with such a capable partner, so that Sporting, where Dinamo was in most of the time dictating the situations, created a hostage. That Dinamo’s good game should have been rewarded more. But tribute should not be sought elsewhere, but from oneself.

Well, we will say that Dinamo played well, but also emphasize that this game lacked victory. And victory has strict requirements, which Dinamo, despite having the ability and opportunity, could not fulfill. By playing with authority in front of an opponent with values in the European world such as Sporting, Dinamo confirmed its own values. Sporting Lisbon was in its best days when it came down to Tirana as the leader of the Portuguese championship with 13 points after 7 games and a 17-2 goal average. Half of the Portuguese representative team among the four best teams of the last European championship that took place in France 1984, and that won 1-0 in the FRG in the last few days, qualifying for Mexico, was seen on the field. It is Sporting footballers Paceko, Litos, Venancio, Damash, M. George, without mentioning Zhordao and Suzen, who play first-hand roles in this qualification for Portugal.

It was the first time that one of our teams played Iberian football, so technical, fast and so finesse in the interpretation of the ball. Precisely, the successful passing of these “barriers” with an imposing and clear game in determining the goal gave Dinamo support, 20 minutes rich with episodes, often dramatic, are played before the eyes of the strong goalkeeper, 28-year-old Damash. But Abazi and Vila also “help” him to lose two such good chances. How difficult it is for our teams to score a goal. For a while, Sporting, in close proximity, called on the experience and technique of Paceko and his friends.

The ball starts and circulates in the center of the field where Suza starts to come alive and when the rain of dynamos weakens. Sporting starts looking at the goal of Luaras. But Zhordao, who feels restricted in his game, neither Fernandez can do what they want. Meanwhile, the actions are balanced in all departments, which seem to feel the weight of the task and the ability of the opponent, therefore they increase vigilance. In such conditions, the game maintains its values, without climaxes, but with plenty of technical-tactical actions to keep the enthusiasm of sports fans burning.

After the break, Dinamo did not agree with such a continuation. With moral and physical strength, calm and technical, reasonably harmonized in the distribution of forces in defense, midfield and attack, our footballers start another search, now with another attack formation: Demollari is pushed forward a little, together with Marko and Topciu, moving slightly behind Abazi. Areas were opened several times in Sporting’s goal, but Marko (two or three times), Topciu (twice) and even Canaj failed to score. Sporting’s goalkeeper with maturity and ability waits and encourages his teammates to break into areas far from his goal. And how much confidence a team creates in such a capable goalkeeper! Taking advantage of any space created by the incomplete play of our midfielders, but also because the Portuguese team was not one of those who simply played in defense (as far as I could see, Sporting’s football did not agree with this type of game, despite the fact that they also wanted the qualification), the Portuguese made two changes in the team’s structure for consequences in the execution of the game.

They already see that visits near the Dinamo goal would consume them and require a lot of forces, which were needed to defend themselves, so in these conditions they preferred to shoot from afar. Paceko, Suza and Fernandez use this weapon not without value. This and the rather rich and beautiful circulation of the ball, where a high class stood out, faded, but did not take away the attacking force of Dinamo, which until the last minutes was stubbornly stitched to the Sporting goal. And yet 0-0! Dinamo didn’t lack either strength and speed, or technique, it played with the same beauty as Sporting, which is outstanding in this component, neither shots, mobilization, nor tactics, etc. – all these factors to develop a beautiful game, which is liked and enjoyed.

Portuguese coach Manuel Jose would say: “a difficult match that ended fortunately for us. You could have won. “Dinamo played well and could be rewarded for this, and I think we will respond.” While the well-known footballer Zhordao: “I was isolated in the attack by myself. Your defense played and covered well. In this difficult game, Dinamo was closer to victory”. Another well-known player was Paceko: “Dinamo surprised us. It presented correct football, a harmonious team. We were more interested in the result than the game. I felt difficulty in my game.