A lot of patience and strong nerves were required in the first division game between SC Dnipro-1 and PFK Olexandrija in Ukraine. Because the footballers had to repeatedly leave the field due to the threat of Russian air strikes, the encounter reportedly lasted a record time of almost five hours.
In the end the host won 1-0. The megacity of Dnipro was repeatedly the target of Russian attacks during Moscow’s more than 20-month offensive, and the air alarm sounded several times on Monday evening. “The match was interrupted several times due to the warnings, but it was still completed,” the Ukrainian Football Association said.
According to the Ukrainian sports website Sport.ua, the match, which kicked off at 5:00 p.m. local time, was the longest football match in the history of the top Ukrainian league. “I really wanted to finish the match,” said Dnipro 1 defender Eduard Sarapiy.
The league in Ukraine is playing despite the war of aggression; the 13th matchday took place at the weekend. For safety reasons, the games will be played without fans. Dnipro-1 is currently in second place behind Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih, the club from President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown.
Ukrainian football has been heavily affected by the war with Russia. Shakhtar Donetsk, which has become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance, will play its Champions League group games in Hamburg. FC Mariupol, from the port city that was conquered by Russia a year ago after a long siege, no longer exists. Tavriya Simferopol moved to the Kherson region following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, but disbanded after its new hometown of Nova Kakhovka fell to Russian forces.