The “Republic Cup” of Albania | Interesting episode through the years!

1952 edition.

In the quarter-finals with a single match, on Sunday, October 5,

Dinamo and Partizan met: the match ended 0-0 after 3 extra times of 15 minutes each. In those days, there were no penalties, only coin toss. The only problem was the fact that the Albanian Football Federation considered this type of “technical” solution unfair. The match was played again in Tirana just two days later. Dinamo defeated Partizan with a score of 3-2 at the end of a very tiring game, which ended after two extra periods: a marathon of 255 minutes in total! The next year’s cup was won by Dinamo in the final against Tirana.

1961 Edition

At the end of the season, Partizan and Dinamo were classified with equal points, 30 points each, with 14 wins, 2 draws and two losses. Partizan scored 46 goals and conceded 13, Dinamo 41 and 12. Unlike in 1950 (Dinamo with Partizan) and in 1955 (again Dinamo with Partizan), the winner was not chosen based on goals scored/conceived. (at that time, the winners were not chosen depending on the goals scored/scored). As in 1957 (Partizani-Dinamo 3:1), it was decided with another match. At the end of two extra parts, 15 minutes each, the match ended 1:1. Refik Resmja scored for Partizan in the 117th minute and Stavri Lubonja equalized after a minute of advantage.

The replay of the match ended 0:0 after two overtimes. At that point, it was decided to perform a third additional part. Panajot Pano scores the winning goal for Partizan in the 123rd minute. Again 255 minutes of matches in total as in the quarter-finals of the Cup of the Republic in 1952.

                                            Photo of Partisan from the 1962-1963 season1963 edition

1/8 of the finals, first leg Apolonia of Fieri – Korabi of Peshkopia 2-1;

the return match Korabi – Apolonia 2-1: after two overtimes of 15 minutes each, it came to penalties. Meanwhile, a pile of black clouds gathered at the foot of the mountain of Korabi, in the suggestive province of Dibra. This mass of clouds darkened the day so much that it was impossible to see. The referee stopped the match due to darkness, while the players were shooting penalties. The footballers ate dinner and went to bed early. In the morning of the next day, the positions were taken back, continuing the endless penalty kicks; Apolonia won 25 penalties against the 24 scored by the home team. The cup was won on November 17 against Besa; The Cavaliers won 3-2 in Tirana (Sunday, March 31), while the Tiranians won 1-0 in Kavaje (Wednesday, April 17), after penalties, the capital club won the trophy: 5-2.

The 1965 edition

Unlike the 1963 edition, this match ended within regular time. 1/8 of the finals with a single match: June 20 in Tirana, Partizani-Flamurtari 1:1; it goes to penalties without extra time: after ten shots from the penalty spot, 9 of them were sent out or were saved by the goalkeepers. The flag-bearer passes the round with a penalty of zero. The final is played in Tirana and was won by Vllaznia of Shkodra against Skenderbeu of Korce with a score of 1:0.

Edition 1972

The return final in Shkoder: Vllaznia – Besa e Kavajes. The away match ended with the victory of Besa with the result 2:0. In the return match, regular time ended 2:0 for Shkodran, thanks to two penalties. Extra times were played and then penalties were the ones that decided the winner, and all seven penalties were scored by Ramazan Ragami; then there was no rule of changing the players who shot penalties. Ragam completed the seven, setting a world record…at least for coolness. Two years ago, Ragami, with Partizan of Tirana, won the Balkan Champions Cup.

By Pjerin Bj – Janar 2021

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