Ukraine’s Dnipro-1 and FC Oleksandriya were involved in an extraordinary football event as they participated in the longest match ever recorded in the history of the league. The four-hour, thirty-six-minute game was disrupted by multiple air-raid warnings, leading to delays that extended the match late into the night.
The match, which took place at the Dnipro Arena in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, started 15 minutes late due to an air-raid siren. Despite the delay, the home team managed to take the lead in the 34th minute, only to be interrupted again early in the second half by another air-raid warning.
A surprising turn of events occurred when Oleksandriya scored shortly after the restart, but the goal was disallowed after an hour’s delay caused by yet another siren, highlighting the disruptive impact of the ongoing conflict on the match.
As the game approached its conclusion, with just a minute of normal time remaining, it was postponed for an additional hour and a half following yet another air-raid warning, prolonging the ordeal for both teams and the fans alike.
Ultimately, the match concluded around 22:00, with Dnipro-1 securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory. This victory places Dnipro-1 in second place in the Ukrainian Premier League, demonstrating their determination and resilience amidst challenging circumstances.
Eduard Sarapiy, a defender for Dnipro-1, expressed the team’s unwavering resolve to complete the match, stating, “This is the first such long game for us, and it could have ended badly for us. We wanted to play the full game. We took to the pitch and tried to finish the game only by winning it,” reflecting the team’s commitment and dedication to the sport.
The Ukrainian Premier League confirmed that this match set a new record as the longest game in its history, lasting four hours and thirty-six minutes, surpassing the previous record held by a match between FC Rukh and FC Metalist, which lasted four hours and twenty-seven minutes, also due to air-raid warnings.
In addition, the ongoing conflict has had a significant impact on the football landscape in Ukraine, with Dnipro’s return to the Dnipro Arena in September marking a symbolic moment. The team had previously relocated to western Ukraine in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022, underscoring the far-reaching effects of the conflict on sports and daily life in Ukraine.
It should be noted that, despite the remarkable resilience displayed by the teams and the league, the context of the match is rooted in a region affected by ongoing conflict. Reports of an elderly man being killed in a Russian air strike in the region just a day before the game further illustrate the gravity of the situation and the challenges faced by the community.
In light of these events, the extraordinary match between Dnipro-1 and FC Oleksandriya not only stands as a testament to the unwavering spirit of Ukrainian football but also serves as a poignant reminder of the impact of conflict on the nation’s sporting activities and the resilience of its people.