Ukraine-Russia: 7:4
Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv beat TsSKA and Spartak Moscow in Israeli tournament
It was not until the end of the First Channel Cup tournament held in Israeli stadiums that the objective of this competition became clear. The initially peculiar formula of clubs from the same country not playing against each other finally proved correct. Both Russian and Ukrainian clubs regularly play against each other at their national championships and cup tournaments. This is the most objective way of identifying the strongest team in Russia or Ukraine. It would hardly be sensible to find this out at an off-season tournament, which would not attract the attention it deserves.
If the tournament had been held according to the traditional scheme of semifinals and the final, it could well have been that two Ukrainian teams would be competing for the main prize, as was the case three years ago at the first Valeriy Lobanovsky Memorial in Kyiv, when Dynamo and Shakhtar beat TsSKA and Lokomotiv Moscow, respectively, in the semifinals. This time we saw a competition between the Ukrainian and Russian clubs.
The intrigue is all too obvious: arguments about whose national championship, and hence soccer, is better to have continued since Ukraine and Russia began to hold separate championships. Soccer analysts as well as ordinary fans in both countries are discussing this enthusiastically and even intensely. The match between the current best clubs of Ukraine and Russia may not have given the final answer to this question but shifted the debate onto another, more pleasant, plane.
Even though the Israeli tournament was an unofficial one and the teams were in different functional conditions, all three games between the Russian and Ukrainian clubs were uncompromising and high-spirited. There were Brazilians and other foreign players in each of the four teams. What of it? These are Ukrainian and Russian Brazilians. It was especially interesting to see whose foreigners were better, in which country’s clubs the foreign players reveal their potential more fully, whose soccer do they play better, and for what matches they adapt more quickly.
Ukrainian soccer aficionados received a very pleasant answer to these and other questions. In the tournament’s four matches, the Ukrainian clubs won twice (Shakhtar-TsSKA: 3-1; Shakhtar-Spartak: 2:1) and tied twice (Dynamo-Spartak 1:1; Dynamo-TsSKA 1:1). Our teams did not lose a single match, securing the first two places. Shakhtar and Dynamo left the not so comfortable last (TsSKA) and second-to-last (Spartak) places to the Russians.
The fact that Shakhtar came first did not sadden Dynamo’s supporters very much. The main result of the First Channel Tournament is that both Ukrainian clubs outdid the Russian ones. Our leaders still have enough time to play each other. The Ukrainian teams also significantly surpassed their Russian opponents in terms of mastery. It should be noted that Shakhtar won both victories through penalty shots, which are unlikely to be awarded so generously at UEFA Cup games that Shakhtar will join next week. Still, no one can deny that the Ukrainian clubs fully deserved their victory.
In addition to positive emotions and cash prizes of one million dollars (Shakhtar) and half a million (Dynamo), the two Ukrainian superclubs gained playing experience, invaluable at this time of year. The coaches now have much to ponder, and the players saw what they are really worth as of today. Let’s not forget about the contacts between the club presidents and other “soccer people” from Ukraine and Russia, a large number of whom visited the hospitable land of Israel during these days.
It goes without saying that the First Channel Cup tournament was head and shoulders above the traditional Moscow-based Commonwealth Cup. Perhaps it is too early to draw conclusions about whether this tournament should be held at this time of year and according to this pattern, but it is quite obvious that the competition resulted in a lot of positive experiences.
In spite of the satisfaction from the victory of the Ukrainian teams, there are still a few rather serious complaints. Not all soccer fans were happy to watch the recorded matches on TV at night. This kind of soccer probably deserves a better slot in the television lineup than the numerous “highly-rated” soap operas. If efforts are made ahead of time, the “Israeli-format” of the Ukrainian-Russian tournament can be shown to a much larger audience, especially considering our teams won this competition.
