clearly seen, ‘’ The leader of the 1973 USSR football championship is wished to put all the medals in the crystal cup’’. Actually, this was the first message. Thousands of telegrams and letters, were received during those 3 days. The most zealous and passionate fans of ‘’Ararat’’ came to Moscow to support their favourite team. On October 10 it was raining heavily from early in the morning till noon. Nevertheless, this could not affect the well-disposed players. Before the beginning of the game Nikita Simonyan had admonished the team to do their best to win success. The one who struggles selflessly and devotedly, he will achieve victory. He had told them to do everything possible so that to return to Yerevan with the cup. Despite the cold weather 60 thousand spectators had gathered in ‘’Lujniki’’. At half past seven by Moscow time the referee Pavel Kazakov announced the start of the game. At the beginning ‘’Ararat’’ couldn’t enter its element. They were a little excited, didn’t play clearly. Twice our goalkeeper showed his skill to save his team in difficult situations. The first dangerous moment in the match was in the 9th minute. Because of Sargsyan’s and Kovalenko’s fault Blokhin and Kolotov appeared one on one with our goalkeeper. The goal seemed inevitable, but Abrahamyan with selfless jump catched the ball. Few minutes later Abrahamyan saved his team from Kolotov’s header from short distance. In the first minute ‘’Dinamo’’ took territorial advantage and ‘’Ararat’’ had to search his luck in the counter-attacks. At the 22nd minute our players got the right of the first corner-kick. After Zanazanyan’s header Samokhin saved his team. Some minutes later Blokhin once again appeared in a promising situation, but Abrahamyan once more saved his team. With one word during the first half “Ararat” didn’t have serious chances to open the score, meanwhile, ‘’Dinamo’’ had one-two promising opportunities which were denied by Abrahamyan. After the break the battle in the pitch started with new power. With a perfect pass from Muntyan Blokhin appeared one on one with Abrahamyan and Norik Mesropyan trying to catch the opponent made a foul. 11m. penalty was realized by Kolotov. So in the 61st minute ‘’Dinamo’’ opened the score. After this ‘’Ararat’’ had to take serious actions. Soon Nikita Simonyan entered the pitch new power in face of Poghosyan and Zanazanyan who substituted Bondarenko and Markarov. This, of course, strengthened the attacking force of the team. ‘’Ararat’’ kept ‘’Dinamo’s’’ goal under permanent fire. Especially were dangerous Zanazanyan’s and Poghosyan’s long-range shots, but Samokhin was on alert. Feeling the nearest victory ‘’Dinamo’s’’ head coach Alexander Sevidov made a tactical turn. He substituted Buryak with Zuev then he enterd the pitch the young footballer Kondratov instead of Blokhin. In general Sevidov was right as he tried to benefit some time with this last gasp substitutions. But in this particular match he made a fatal mistake and immediately after the final he was sacked. It was already 89th minute, when ‘’Ararat’’ made the last gasp attack. Arkadi Andreasyan who was at that moment in the opponent’s part gave an indication to his team-mates to pass the ball to the opponent’s penalty area. Kovalenko made a long pass to Andreasyan. The latter winning the air battle made an accurate pass to Khazaryan. The latter in a battle with the defender managed to strike. Samokhin denied the strike, but Ishtoyan was in the right place in the right time and he managed to equalize the score. Everything happened so quick. The score became 1:1 and everything had to be started from the beginning. After a short break the two teams had to battle for 30 minutes for the final victory. According to the current regulation in case of draw the two teams had to decide the winner next day. Nikita Simonyan knew quite well that next day it would be difficult to defeat ‘’Dinamo’’, so during the break he asked his alumni with the following words. We must win the match today, during this 30 minutes, tomorrow will be late.
-We must score a quick goal. I’m sure you are able to score the decisive goal. Of course, ‘’Ararat’’ had some psychological advantage. Besides that without Buryak and Blokhin ‘’Dinamo’s’’ attacks had nothing serious in them. ‘’Ararat’’ entered the pitch in a confident manner. In the 99th minute ‘’Ararat ‘’ was unlucky as Nazar Petrosyan’s strike was denied by the crossbar. 4 minutes later Levon Ishtoyan, hero of the final took the ball near ‘’Dinamo’s’’ penalty area just in front of the goal and with an accurate strike netted the ball to the above right corner. Samokhin’s selfless jump was in vain. It was ‘’Ararat’s’’ victorious goal and the Armenian team took the well-deserved Cup. Tired but happy ‘’Ararat’’ under the applause of spectators and fans made a victorious circle in the “Luzhniki’’ stadium. Meantime in Yerevan a great and unprecedented festivity had already started. Everyone had been congratulating one another with a historic win. So, ‘’Ararat’’ took the USSR Cup and the next step was the battle for gold medals. For the above mentioned achievement they had to overcome four obstacles.
Opinions after the final
Nikita Simonyan – I’m happy that finally Armenian team achieved such a success winning the Cup. It is right that battles for the cup are always tough, but the most beautiful is always the score. I’m quite pleased with the way my alumni played today and especially for their strong will for the victory.
Nikolay Gulaev(‘’Spartak’’ Moscow’s head coach) – It was really a difficult match. In the first half ‘’Dinamo’’ had a slight advantage. Then ‘’Ararat’’ found his play and even after 11m. penalty they didn’t surrender and showed great will for the victory. In extra time Armenian team was obviously stronger and they deserved to win. I congratulate ‘’Ararat’’ with perfect victory.
Andrey Starostin – In the first half it was an equal battle. However the Ukrainians had a slight advantage. In the nervous battle ‘’Ararat’’ was a little bit lucky. ‘’Ararat’’ was technically stronger side and they deserved to win.
Vladimir Rudnev(referee)- After 11m. penalty for a moment it seemed that ‘’Ararat’’ conciliated with the defeat, but luckily they recovered and showed ‘’Ararat’s’’ real and powerful face.
The USSR Cup final
''Ararat'' - ''Dinamo'' Kiev 2:1(0:0,1:1)
October 10th , Moscow ''Luzhniki'' stadium 60 000 spectators
Referee: Pavel Kazakov (Moscow)
''Ararat''- Abrahamyan, Gevorgyan, Sargsyan, Kovalenko, Mesropyan,Andreasyan, Bondarenko, (Poghosyan 73), Ishtoyan, Margarov (Khazaryan 73), Zanazanyan, N. Petrosyan
''Dinamo'' - Samokhin, Damin, Matvienko, Fomenko, Reshko, Troshkin, Muntyan, Buryak (Zuev 87), Kolotov, Veremeev, Blokhin (Kondratov 88)
Goal scorers: Kolotov (61 m. 11m. penalty), Ishtoyan(89, 103)
Booked: Gevorgyan and Kovalenko
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