(Archive) 32nd Football Cup of the Republic – 1985 | The semi-finals!

22 July 2021

901

The premiere of the big final Partizani – Vertete Flag ! 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: November 17 and Vllaznia. The first after 27 games was forced to accept the first defeat. A whole year without defeat! November 17 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 – Flagman. 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. Flagship, 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! How will we judge this final? She will speak for herself with her match. 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 Kombetara and Spresa 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. How would the meeting of January 30 continue? Partizani – November 17 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 Mersin. Partizan had relied on the weapon of surprise while on November 17 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. November 17, 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 November 17, currently in a good condition, has provided Partizan with the advantage: full control of the midfield that defends and attacks. On November 17, only the numerical superiority in his defense is left. This team looked at the two opposing strikers between Omur, Hodje, Lekbello and Bimo. Such an alignment of forces damaged the 17th of November, 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 on November 17, 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 November 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 on November 17 it seems to be relieved by Minge's pillar and a more intuitive action by Meme. 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 November 17 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. On November 17, he removed his weapon from the fast game. Everyone learns from this battle, not without tactical value, first of all on November 17 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 Flamurtar 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 Flagurtari, although hit hard, still does not give up on his goal to be a finalist. They are discovered quickly and the abilities of Ferko, Gjonde and Zijaji in the midfield stand out. The Volhon 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 Kusha, the ball returned to the penalty area by V. Ruci, Bubeqi just caressed it with his head, to leave Kusha 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. The flag bearer is a deserved 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. The link of the final match of the 32nd Cup of the Republic. 1985! https://www.kinetografia-shqiptare-sporti.com/arkiv-1985-finalja-e-kupes-se-32-te-republikes-ne-futboll/ (Reference: "Popular Sport" February 5, 1985 / personal collection) Sports Vision / Hour of Champions