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AWL, CORBIS
Peek through the main gates of the Ukraina ground
today, and you see two memorials to that magical
year. A bright, marble football and a wooden sculpture
carved with the names of the team members mark the
dramatic events of that summer, when little Karpaty
made it to Moscow, and the grand final at the then
Central Lenin Stadium (now Luzhniki). A handful of
Karpaty faithful followed their team, outnumbered by
those supporting favourites CKA Rostov. Against all
expectations – and the run of play – Karpaty broke the
deadlock to score two second-half goals and signal a
famous triumph, while their opponents had their own
goal declared offside. Never before, and never again,
would a side from the lower flight win the Soviet Cup.
The club went on to become a regular fixture in
the higher echelons of the Soviet game, but never
a match for the giants from Moscow or Kiev. It’s a
situation that remains in place in today’s independent
Ukrainian league, as Karpaty yo-yo between the top
and lower-flight divisions. Recently formed FC Lviv
now provide local opposition, while games with Volyn
Lutsk provide regional spice.
Yet the few thousand who attend these parochial
clashes realise the proud sporting history that
surrounds them – and the Lviv tradition that
transcends modern-day borders.
94
WIZZ MAGAZINE
JUNE-JULY 2012
FEATURE
LVIV FOOTBALL
“Karpaty Lviv broke
the deadlock to score
two goals and signal
a famous triumph”
THE CITY HOPES EURO
2012 WILL PUT IT ON
THE MAP AGAIN.
BELOW:
LVIV ARENA WILL ALSO
HOST ROCK SHOWS