Partizani – Dinamo, the perpetual rivalry stalemate and the unintentional birth of the “Golden Goal” in the 1960s!

Partizani vs Dinamo
“An Eternal Stalemate”; “Interminable Tie”; “Perpetual Standoff”; “Timeless Deadlock”; “Enduring Impasse”!
This is the only way to determine the extremely balanced matches between these two teams that became a testament to the fierce rivalry and determination of both teams!

Prologue
The birth of the “Golden Goal” for the entire world of football came during the 90s, but quite unintentionally, this type of goal (or sadden death) was applied much earlier, quite by chance, in Albania in the 60s, based on a need that arose after a first final of a match that risked lasting forever after an enduring impasse. More precisely, the two finals of the 1961 championship, between the Albanian football rivals, Partizani – Dinamo. Anton Mazreku is the inventor, while Pano is the implementer of the idea in the 242nd minute, in the third extra time of second final match….
Two big names in the history of Albanian sports and football.

Maybe they did not call it the “Golden Goal”, but the application of this invented rule at the moment had the same function, avoiding overlong matches, eliminating the tendency of cynical tactics and conservatism that became pronounced in extra time in tense duels in the elimination phase.

So in Albania, without hesitation, it can be said that what was proposed by FIFA Secretary General Joseph Blatter was experimented in Albania on July 2, 1961, after two marathon final matches with 242 minutes of play, and it is even difficult to find such an example in history.

1.
The Partizan – Dinamo duel, a “triple thriller stalemate”!

The duel of these two teams will be a “Triple Thriller Stalemate”, a phenomenon that occurred several times when these two rivals were involved in a prolonged and intense competition, requiring supplementary matches and extra time, which strangely continued to result in a draw or in a result that challenged the decisive winner, leaving an indelible mark on the sports history of competing teams not only in Albania.

With the creation of Dinamo in 1950, along with Partizan (which had been created in 1946), a duel was born in Albanian football that would last almost two decades. In fact, Dinamo immediately after its formation would win the championship title four times in a row (1950-1953), breaking a three-year winning streak of Partizan (1947-1949).
Then, from 1954 to 1964, both of these teams would alternate, occasionally taking the championship title from each other.

It would be a long period of 17 years that the championship title would be the hegemony of these two teams, of this historical duel of rivals, which included the elite of Albanian football, the most listened to footballers from the regions.

The dominance of this duo would reach its peak twice, so much so that after a balance between them, the organizers would be forced to schedule a championship final on two occasions, the one in 1957 and the other, with two matches in itself in 1961, which would “unintentionally” mark the birth of the first golden goal, the first occasion in the world, precisely in Albania in the early 1960s.

2
The 1957 final, a warm up for the next timeless deadlock finals

In the 13th National Football Championship (I am talking about those of the official editions after WW II), 8 teams participated, where ironically, 5 of these eight teams were named “Puna” resembling the same uniforms of a manufacturing company.

Apart from Partizan, Dinamo and “Spartak” (Tirana), the others were all “Puna” from Tirana, Korca, Vlora, Durres and the one from Kavaja!
The championship is held in two phases but with only one season, that is, within one year, that of 1957.

The start of this championship is Dinamo, which is released with a vengeance, winning in the first week (3-1) against Puna of Tirana. Partizan does not go further than 1-1 against Spartak and two weeks later, 0-0, against Puna of Tirana (next 17 nentori coming).

Meanwhile Dinamo, taking advantage of the opportunity, has won against Kavaja 3-0, breaking away with two points in the table standings. Further, they win with the same result (3-0) also in Vlora against the locals now leaving behind with three points Partizan and “raising sails on the open sea” calmly.

But its seas became turbulent in week 5, when Dinamo would lose to Partizan 0-1 with a goal by Resmja in the 85th minute, in the presence of 25,000 enthusiastic spectators.

The newspaper of the time “Sporti” writes:

Referee: Ejup Laci, Besim Hamdiu, Sami Kotherja; Around 25,000 spectators. For Dinamo, Duma, Jareci, Lubonja stood out, while for Partizan, Dedja, Resmja, Kraja, Çaushi, who also had the opportunity to score, stood out.

Resmja is a concern for Dinamo’s defense, which with Xhod Shaqiri seeks to stop him. “The 85th minute comes, a ball given by Roza Haxhiu to the left wing for Resmja, who advanced quickly, not finding any resistance, shot with precision to the ground, and scored the only goal of the match. The judgment by E. Laci was good” (M. Alla).

For Dinamo, the waters get even more turbulent as they draw 1-1 in the second leg against “Puna” Tirana. Both rivals now have 13 points each.

However, Partizan is not sailing smoothly either, they lose in Korce 0-1, and Dinamo, while winning 2-0 against Vlora, is back in the lead with two points.

We arrive at week 12.

It is June 2, 1957, at the “Qemal Stafa” stadium, where Partizan defeats again Dinamo 2-1 (Merja 36’, Jareci 62’, Resmja 78’) under the direction of a trio referees led by B. Hamdiu and assistants R. Kuka and Sh. Gruda.

Here, the “father” of Albanian sports journalism, the unforgettable Anton Mazreku, will write this in the pages of the newspaper “Sporti”:

“In the 36th minute, G. Merja shoots hard from a distance of 20 meters and the ball ends up in the net, just under the top post. After the break, Dinamo has the initiative. In the 17th minute, Lubonja passes the ball to Shaqiri, who crosses in front of the goal, Jareci intervenes very nicely with his head and the ball greets the net, 1-1. At Partizan, Baci replaces Ndini, while Lubonja seals the crossbar with a strong ball. Another shot at Dinamo’s goal, Beliu intercepts the ball, but does not catch it in his chest, the ball escapes from his hands, Resmja coolly and cleverly shoots and the ball ends up in the net”.

2-1 for Partizan, with two weeks left and they are tied on points in the standings (23 each). Goal difference: 30-8 Dinamo and 37-10 Partizan).

The regulation has changed, not by goal difference, but it foresees a final match to take the championship title at the end”.

In the 15th week, Partizani will beat “Puna” of Tirana 2-1, forcing them to drop to the final 4th place of the championship and giving up the third place to “Puna” of Korca, which achieved great success after many years by being classified in the top three of Albanian football. “Puna” of Kavaja was ranked last, not winning a single match.

Partizani and Dinamo close the championship with equal points, 23 each, exactly as it had happened in 1950 and 1955, but this time the goal difference will not be taken into account. To determine the champion team, they will meet on June 26 in a final match and to be played the third match among them for this championship.

Both teams take to the field under the direction of the referees R.Kuka, M.Laska, and Sh.Gruda
PARTIZANI: Maliqati, Deliallisi, Fagu, M.Papadhopulli, Baci, G.Merja, Kraja, Ndini, R.Haxhiu, Resmja, Deda.
DINAMO: Beliu, Dashi, Reli, Alluni, Shaqiri (Lubonja), Sheshi, Tallushi, Duma, Jareci, Lubonja (Gjinali), Begeja.

The match started off briskly and Dinamo looked like they would be the first to take the lead. In the first 20 minutes they took three corner kicks and a long-range shot by Duma. And so, it happened in the 14th minute Dinamo scored a goal with a free kick by Jareci. The ball, after deflecting off the wall, caused the goalkeeper Maliqati to move, ending up in the net. Partizani mobilized and after the execution of the third corner by Deda, in the 29th minute, G.Merja scored the equalizer a few meters away.

The great pressure of the red shirts continues during the second half, when in the 29th minute, Partizan takes the lead through Kraja and a minute later R.Haxhiu scores the third goal, cementing the final score 3-1.
Thus, Partizan with coach Rexhep Spahiu wins its 5th title.

3.
The first finale of an unresolved impasse!

The 17th National Football Championship for the 1st Category will be held with 10 teams which will now have different names more found and more adapted to the cities they represent (in fact the names came and were made in 1958, in the 15th championship).

So the following teams participated: Partizani, Dinamo, 17 Nentori (Tirana); Labinoti (Elbasan); Flamurtari (Vlore); Skenderbeu (Korce); Besa (Kavaje); Traktori (Lushnje); Vllaznia (Shkoder) and Tomori (Berat), which were ranked as follows after the end of this championship.

It was a beautiful, interesting championship held in two phases but again within a year without a season. The duel and the sporting war between Partizan and Dinamo stood out in this championship as well, and their rivalry would even reach its peak. During this year they would meet a total of 6 times (four in the championship, with a double final and once for the 4th Congress Cup of the Albanian Football Association and one for the Peace Cup(!).

On February 11, before the start of the championship, Partizani-Dinamo 3-0 (1-0), with three goals from Resmja.

The first weeks do not bring any surprises.
In the 4th week, Dinamo beats “17 Nentori” 2-0, and Partizan beats “Vllaznia 3-0.
In the 5th week, Flamurtari manages to beat Dinamo 2-1, just like the last two years against Dinamo, giving their rivals a serious warning that they will not share the first places.

In the 7th week, played on April 9, 1961, at the newly built “Dinamo” stadium, Partizan won against Dinamo 3-1 (1-1) with goals from Bespalla (D), Bukoviku, Resmja, Jashari. Now the Reds, after this victory, are 4 points ahead on the standings, and it seems that no one will be able to stop their comeback.
They have achieved eight consecutive victories and close the first phase in the lead with a 2-2 draw against 17 Nentori, which is five points behind Partizan in second place. One point less, in third place is Dinamo.

In the second phase, Dinamo defeated “17 Nentori” again (1-0), and Partizan do the same against Besa (4-1). So far, it seems that nothing new will happen. However, in the 15th week, Labinoti inflicted the first defeat on Partizan by defeating them 1-0 in Elbasan. Now the standings read like this: Partizani 25; Dinamo 22; 17 Nentori 19.
A week later, Vllaznia defeated “17 Nentori” in Shkoder 2-1, achieving their third victory in this championship, since out of the 9 points collected, they have taken four from the Tirana team.

The championship reaches two weeks before the end in the 16th week, where about 20,000 spectators, including the presence of the leader Enver Hoxha, have filled the “Dinamo” stadium. And behold, Dinamo wins 2-1 against Partizan (Lubonja, Jareci, Seferi) approaching with only one point (26) to Partizan who has 27.

A week later, in a real battle in Kavaje, Dinamo wins 3-0, while Partizan defeats Skenderbeu in Tirana 2-0

It’s the last week, the 18th of the championship.
In Tirana, the challenge, Partizani – “17 Nentori”.
To put the championship medals on their chest, Partizani definitely needs a victory, after Dinamo without much difficulty deposited 6 goals in the Labinoti ‘s gate, the day before and is waiting…

Thousands of fans are also waiting at the national stadium “Qemal Stafa”.
The 14th minute and Jashari has given Partizan the advantage, which is now the champion, but on the 28th minute 17 Nentori equalizes 1-1 with Rada’s side. Two minutes after the end of the first half, Pano comes on stage, in the 43rd minute, scoring 2-1 for the reds. Now Partizan feels calmer towards the title… but no, Ishka does not think so, who with a beautiful pass scores the equalizer goal 2-2 and the final result.

A 2-2 draw, which means a tie-on points (30 each this time) again between Partizan and Dinamo, just like three times before (1950, 1955 and now 1961).

A tie all round.

In fact, both have 14 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses!
Partizan has a goal difference of 46-13 while Dinamo has 41-12.

The only sports newspaper at the time in Albania “Sporti” will write on its page:

“Last year’s championship had an original ending – there was no conclusion. It did not end on time, because after the 18th week, Partizan is at the top of the standings and Dinamo is in second place. Both teams have equal points (30), with a positive goal difference coefficient, almost equal – the first 3.54 and the second 3.42. However, according to the internal regulations, goals do not have the power to determine the winner of the title, although they are the goals that give the points.

So on Thursday, June 29, Partizan and Dinamo are facing the final test, if during the game or its 2 x 15 minute overtime, one of the teams does not win, the fate of the championship flag will be determined by another match with its eventual overtime!

Something needed to be done breaking this extremely pronounced balance between these two teams. Then again, the unforgettable journalist, a masterpiece creator Anton Mazreku, then head of the football federation, stepped onto the scene and immediately proposed a second 90-minute extra-time final match with two regular overtimes of 15 minutes each, and even if there was no winner, he emphasized a third overtime where the team that would score first would bring the match to an immediate end, declaring itself the champion.

So, quite unintentionally, the proposal of the genius Mazreku coincides with and closely resembles the rule that FIFA would apply in 1989, after 28 years, namely the “golden goal” rule.

So, on June 29, 1961, in the newly renovated “Dinamo” stadium, the final match will be played, or rather the first act of a dramatic final. And behold, the regular 90 minutes end with the nets intact 0-0. Thus ends the first 15-minute extra time and it seems that the second one does not bring anything new, but in the 117th minute, Resmja, after receiving a ball, advances towards the Qoshes goal, shoots and the ball hits the net.

The stadium explodes!

Partizan leads 1-0 now when there are less than 3 minutes left for the match to end. From the emotions of this drama, Resma is about to faint.

Everyone is impatiently waiting for the referee Hamdiu to whistle for the end of the match, but Lubonja does not agree and in the 118th minute he equalizes 1-1 after a long-range shot.

Photo of the equalizing goal scored by Lubonja

To relive at least a little the emotions of the heated duel of that dramatic final, we are also referring to the press of the time, the newspaper “Sporti”

Dinamo-Partizani 1-1
DINAMO: Qoshja, Çaushi, Halili, Alluni, H. Verria, N. Jareci, Vorfi, Bespalla, Bushati, Lubonja, Duro. Coach: Zyber Konçi.

PARTIZANI: Maliqati, Deliallisi, Papadhopulli, Dingu, M. Ndini, Merja, Kraja, Bukoviku, Pano, Resmja, Jashari. Coach: Rexhep Spahiu.

Scorers: Resmja 117’; Lubonja 118’.
Referees: B. Hamdiu, A. Lika, H. Cenoymeri.
Corner kicks: 10-7 in favor of Dinamo.
Substitutions:
Second half: S. Jareci instead of M. Bushati and T. Shehu instead of Kraja. Spectators: 20,000.

Chronicle of the match
Partizan chooses the field, Dinamo the ball.
Foul for Dinamo, Bespalla shoots, the ball goes over the post.
Minute 4, corner kick for Partizan, Kraja hits. The ball goes in front of Qoshe’s goal, not used by the players.
11′, we have a shot by Resmja, outside. Alluni passes to Bushati who misses a favorable chance. Bespalla and Resmja miss chances, who hit the Qoshe’s post.
Partizan has the lead in the second half as well, Pano and Resmja combine well, forcing Qoshja to prevent their attempts to score.
In 32′, Resmja shoots skillfully in a bicycle kick form that was rightly applauded.
39′, Resmja misses a chance by passing the ball over the goalkeeper.
30 minutes of extra time are played.
With three minutes left in the game, in the 117th minute, Resmja takes a ball from deep, advances towards the Qoshe`s goal and after getting even closer, finishes the ball in the net. But, while the enthusiasm of the Partizan team and the players themselves had not yet died down, in 118′, Lubonja takes an individual action and scores the equalizer 1 – 1 !
In the first half, Partizan applied 1-4-2-4.
Maliqati performed well and the trio Deliallisi, Papadhopulli-Dingu focused more on destroying the opponent’s attacks. Strikers Kraja, Pano, Resmja and Jashari improved their game during the second half. Resmja appeared in good sports condition.
Dinamo’s players, despite their mobilization throughout the game, were not at the level of the last matches. Goalkeeper Qoshja appeared in good condition. The defense trio did not appear at the right height, although a heavy burden fell on them and for this reason they were Dinamo’s best unit.
The lack of attack support with Vorfi-Bespalla – Bushati – Lubonja and Duro was noticeable, they were not the ones from the last matches. They lacked accuracy in passing and shooting.
The referee of the match by B. Hamdiu and his assistants was good.

4.
Timeless Blockade and the Birth of the “Golden Goal”!

In less than four days, on Sunday, July 2nd, 1961, both teams will once again take to the field of battle at the “Dinamo” stadium, which itself is packed to the brim and it seems that the fans of both teams have not left their seats, waiting to find out who will be this year’s champion.

Dinamo Team of the 1961 year!

Another match and other emotions. Just like eight years ago in the Republic Cup, again a 0-0 draw, whiteness on the scoreboard, even after two 15-minute overtimes, this whiteness is not violated.

It is an eternal stalemate, an endless deadlock without time!
The “tired nets” doze off, waiting, but in vain.

Another 15-minutes extra time, the last limit to break the tie, and then the draw will be put into action. But here, in the 242nd minute, after two matches with their supplementary extras, in the 2nd minute of the third extra time, to prove the albanian saying “the third, the truth”, Pano, in an action from the left wing of Partizan’s attack, towards the south gate, shoots hard and smartly, electrifying the stadium and thus scoring the golden goal, the first officially in the history of football.

Panajot Pano, the protagonist of the third extra time of the second supplementary final championship match and the best goal scorer of the season with 12 goals

Based on the press reports of the time, Sotir Seferaj makes a comeback from the winger, passing the ball to Pano who initially dodged Çaushi, Jareci and finally Halili, where exactly at the point of the two 16-meter lines meet, he unleashes a real projectile, sending the ball into the left corner of the goal of Dynamo keeper Qoshja.

The imagination of what could have happened at this moment and the situation experienced at the “Dinamo” stadium is limitless. The match, according to the proposed and approved rule, is immediately interrupted and Partizani is declared champion. In its composition, led by coach Rexhep Spahiu, are prominent: Maliqati, Deliallisi, Papadhopulli, Dingu, O. Mema, Merja, Kraja, Resmja, Jashari and of course the star of this team, Panajot Pano.

Alfred Kazanaxhi, member of the Central Commission, presents to the champion team and its reserves flags and medals of this event.
The match was judged very well by H. Hysena, alongside with his two assistants, Sh.Gruda and Mihallaq Tiko.
Partizani and Dinamo, once again witnessed a long and intense rivalry between two equals, which was characterized by an extremely long duration without any decisive result, resulting in a draw or a series of consecutive draws, which became an icon and lasting symbol of their rivalry.

Partizan’s team is lined up before the second supplementary final

We return once more to the pages of the newspaper “Sporti” to reflect information as accurately as possible and to transmit the emotions of one of those special finals of a football that is no more.

Second match, Tirana, Sunday July 2, 1961, 17:00, “Dinamo” stadium
Partizani-Dinamo 1-0
PARTIZANI: Maliqati, Deliallisi, Papadhopulli, Dingu, Ndini, Merja, Kraja, Bukoviku, Pano, T. Shehu, S. Seferaj. Coach: Rexhep Spahiu.

DINAMO: Qoshja, Çaushi, Halili, Alluni, H. Verria, S. Jareci, Vorfi, Bespalla, Bushati, Lubonja, Duro. Coach: Zyber Konçi.

Scorer: Pano 122’ (422`).
Referees: H. Hysena, Sh. Gruda and M. Tiko.
Corner Kicks: 5-2 in favor of Partizan.
Spectators: 15,000.

It is too hot and great interest. The time is 17:00, when the Tirana referee Hysena gives the signal for the start of the game.
They are almost the same players, although in Partizan in poor health, Resmja does not play, who is sitting on the bench.
10’, Bushati passes the ball to Jareci, who shoots wide with his head. The best chance for Dinamo appears in the 20th minute, which is not used by Bushati.
From the 20th to the 25th minute, the game is balanced.
In the 25th and 28th minute, first Pano and then Seferaj shoot wide.
After the 29th minute, Dinamo takes a lot of risks, but in the 44th minute Pano misses a very good chance to score.
During the 90 minutes, Dinamo’s game was clear. It connected well and its attackers dangerously came down to Maliqat’s goal.
Center defender S. Halili did his job well enough in defeating the opposing attacks.
Partizan showed more aggressiveness, but was unable to conclude.
The game lasted another 2 x 15 minutes.
During this time, especially in the second overtime, Dinamo created superiority.
The entire 30 minutes pass without anyone scoring.
The game is extended for another 15 minutes.
Now whoever scores first wins the title.
We are in the 122nd minute, Partizan comes down from the left wing, where Pano cleverly shoots hard and beautifully, scores a goal and lifts the fans.
Referee Hysena stops the game and according to the regulations signals its end.
Partizan is the champion of 1961!
Unlike the match of June 29, Dinamo was closer to winning the title, because it played better than Partizan, but did not find the way to the net.
In front of the central stand, comrade A. Kazanxhiu, a member of the Voluntary Football Committee, declared the championship closed and handed over the flags, championship medals to the first team and the reserves of Partizan, along with diplomas and letters of commendation to the Dinamo players who took second place”.
“What happened on July 29 and 2 at the ‘Dinamo’ stadium between Partizan and Dinamo was not only a real battle, but also an unprecedented case, which can hardly be seen again in the fight for the championship title”
–Albanian “Sporti” Newpaper of July 5, 1961-

5.
Partizani, return to the championship tittle!

Partizan snatched the tittle from Dinamo as the reigning champion and returned to the trophy only after a year of absence (1960). Of course, it was not only the 22-year-old Pano, in his best form as the key point of the team, but in itself this Partizan was a nursery garden of players and to reach the badge of the great champion, it certainly needed the undeniable contribution of a goalkeeper like Maliqati, of the invaluable defenders Deliallisi, Papadhopulli, Dingu; of the iron midfielders like Bukoviku, Shllaku, Ndini or Merja; of the strikers Jashari, Resmja and Kolec Kraja.

And the red shirts were not limited to that, because in their ranks stood out O. Mema, who would become a dynasty of Tirana football after returning to 17 Nentori. There were also Tomorr Shehu, the fast player Sotir Seferaj, Simon Deda, who would debut with Vllaznia of Shkodra at the age of 15, Jonuz Teli and Osman Djepaxhia who would become the 5th shkodran native in the ranks of a “shkodranized” Partizan.

This beautifully woven Partizan ensemble was led by coach Rexhep Spahia, a prominent figure in Albanian football, Balkan champion in 1946 alongside with the greatest Loro Borici in the national red & black team.

Spahia, with his intuition and deep knowledge, had managed to create a strong, unstoppable team, with a physical preparation and an fierce attacking accent that resembled a goal machine, a full 46 goals during this championship, in addition to Pano who had scored 12, as the best scorer of the championship, in the ranks of the reds there were players who carried the signature of 5-6 goals scored.

In fact, no one would be able to stop this Partizan from winning the next two editions of the national championship (1962-1963 and 1963-1964) which for the first time in Albania began to be developed in the system of an autumn-spring season.

By Pjerin Bj
New York: December 7, 2024
© The Exclusivity in this page holds the date of December 7, 2024
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Sports Vision +Plus / Champions Hour in activity since 2013

References: Collection of the “Sporti” Newpaper over the years / “History of Football” Book (Publishing House “8 Nentori”) 1980 / S. Kellici (p. 95, 96 / 102, 103, 104)

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