The first match in the history of the national team of Ukraine: how it was 31 years ago...

29.04.2023 10:00

April 29, 1992. Uzhhorod. Ukraine national team before the match with Hungary. Photo by Ukrinform

Today marks 31 years since the day when the national football team of Ukraine played the first match in its history...

On Ukrainian Football Day, we recall the premiere, which will be remembered forever. It took place after FIFA and UEFA submitted documents granting the Football Federation of Ukraine the status of a temporary member of the organization.

The choice of opponent was primarily due to geographical factors. Uzhhorod was logically chosen as the meeting place.

Lobanovskyi was meant as a coach

Due to a shortage of finances, the players from abroad were not invited. The expanded list of 41 players included Chanov, Kuznetsov, Mykhailychenko, Lytovchenko, Protasov, Zavarov, Belanov, Lyutyi, Yuran and Kanchelskis. But, without being able to pay for at least the flight of the players, no one at the FFU spoke about the topic of their call.

Valeriy Lobanovskyi, who at the time headed the UAE national team, wanted to be the head coach. Even an invitation was sent to the Emirates. But Valeriy has made it clear that he will be ready to join him only after the expiration of the current contract.

In the end, it was decided to choose a coach from among the members of the coaching staff, which included Anatoliy Puzach (Dynamo), Yevhen Kucherevskyi (Dnipro), Yevhen Lemeshko (Torpedo), Yukhym Shkolnykov (Bukovyna), Viktor Prokopenko (Chornomorets) and Valeriy Yaremchenko (Shakhtar). At the last stage, the circle was narrowed to three specialists. Puzach, Yaremchenko and Prokopenko took the team to Uzhhorod. The last of them, by agreement between the coaches themselves, took a charge.

The staff had 20 football players at their disposal: goalkeepers — Kutiepov (Dynamo), Gryshko (Chornomorets); defenders - Luzhnyi, Yu. Moroz (both - Dynamo), Nikiforov, Tretyak (both - Chornomorets), Dragunov (Shakhtar), Bezhenar (Dnipro); midfielders — Annenkov, Kovalets, Zayets (all — Dynamo), Shelepnytskyi, Sak, Tsimbalar (all — Chornomorets), Pogodin (Shakhtar), Dudnyk (Metallurg W); strikers - Salenko (Dynamo), Getsko, Gusev (both - Chornomorets), Shcherbakov (Shakhtar).

There was no any preparation to the match. The team arrived from Kyiv to Uzhhorod, and this fact, of course, influenced the result.

Zhuk did not gave a penalty

Although before the break, at the score of 0:0, our team could score, and more than once. In the 15th minute Shelepnytskyi made a dangerous shot at Brockhauser's goal, but the visitors were saved by a post. And soon Belarusian referee Vadym Zhuk did not gave an obvious penalty for a foul against Shcherbakov. 

In the second half, the advantage of the Hungarian team was felt in the game, in addition, the fact of experience must be taken into account - the opponent's players represented clubs from Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium... Shaloyi and Kiprich skilfully took advantage of the mistakes of our defenders, but Getzko, who came on as a substitute, made a spectacular shot from the free kick did not allow to turn the debut into a beating.

Avangard stadium was completely full that day, and the ticket for a historical match cost 50 karbovantsiv.

Friendly Match

Ukraine - Hungary - 1:3 (0:0)

Goals: 0: 1 Shaloi (61), 0: 2 Cyprus (70), 0: 3 Cyprus (84, penalties), 1: 3 Hetzko (90).

Ukraine: Kutyepov, Luzhnyi, Nikiforov, Bezhenar, Tretyak, Kovalets, Tsimbalar, Shelepnytskyi, Salenko (Getsko, 59), Pogodin (Sak, 56), Shcherbakov (Gusev, 69). Trainer: Viktor Prokopenko.

Hungary: Brockhauser (Tomasz Balogh, 88), Monosh, Telek, Shimon, Lerinz (Kovacs, 86), Limperger (Tibor Balogh, 58), Kiprich, Marton (Illes, 82), Shaloi (Pishont, 74), Lipchai, Vince. Trainer: Emery Aeneas.

Yellow cards: Kovalets - Monosh, Shaloi.

Referee: V. Zhuk (Belarus).

April 29, 1992. Uzhhorod. Avangard Stadium. 13 000 spectators.