On All-Ukrainian Football Day, we remember a premiere that will be remembered forever. It took place after FIFA and UEFA documents arrived granting the Football Federation of Ukraine provisional membership status.

The choice of opponent was primarily determined by geographical factors. The logical venue for the match was border town Uzhhorod.

Coach Was Lobanovsky

Due to financial constraints, it did not work out to invite foreign players. To an expanded list of 41 footballers, Charnov, Kuznetsov, Mikhaylichenko, Litovchenko, Protasov, Zavarov, Belanov, Lutyi, Yuran and Kanatselskis were added. But without the ability to pay even for players' flights, no one in the FFFU pursued the idea of calling them up.

The main coach was intended to be Valeriy Lobanovsky, who at that time led the UAE national team. An invitation was even sent to the Emirates. However, Valery Vasilyevich made it clear that he would only be available after his current contract expired.

Ultimately, the coach was chosen from among members of the coaching council, which included Anatoliy Puzach ("Dynamo"), Yevgen Kucherovsky ("Dnipropetrovsk Dnipro"), Yevgen Lemeshko ("Torpedo"), Yukhim Shkolyar ("Bukovyna"), Viktor Prokopenko ("Chornomorets") and Valeriy Yaremchenko ("Shakhtar"). The final stage narrowed down to three specialists. Puzach, Yaremchenko, and Prokopenko were brought to Uzhhorod. By mutual agreement among the coaches, it was Prokopenko who became the head coach.

The staff had 20 footballers at their disposal: goalkeepers — Kutepov ("Dynamo"), Gryshko ("Chornomorets"); defenders — Luzhnyi, Y. Moroz (both "Dynamo"), Nikiforov, Tretiak (both "Chornomorets"), Dragunov ("Shakhtar"), Bezhenar ("Dnipropetrovsk Dnipro"); midfielders — Annenkov, Kovalec, Zaetz (all "Dynamo"), Shelepnytskyi, Sak, Tsymbalar (all "Chornomorets"), Pogodin ("Shakhtar"), Dudnik ("Metallurg Z"); forwards — Salenko ("Dynamo"), Hetko, Husiev (both "Chornomorets"), Shcherbakov ("Shakhtar").

Preparation for the match was practically non-existent. The team arrived in Uzhhorod from Kiev with no time to prepare, and this fact certainly affected the result.

Although before halftime, at 0-0, our national team could have made a mark, more than once. On the 15th minute Shelepnytskyi dangerously shot towards Brokhouser's goal, but the visitors were saved by his save. And shortly after that, the referee did not award an obvious penalty for rough play against Shcherbakov.

In the second half, Hungary's team showed superiority in terms of experience as well — their players represented clubs from Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium… Shalo and Kiprich skillfully took advantage of our defenders' mistakes, but Hetko, who came on as a substitute, scored an effective shot from the penalty spot to prevent the debut from being a defeat.

It should be noted that the "Avangard" stadium was packed that day, and tickets for the historic match cost 50 hryvnias.

Friendly Match

Ukraine — Hungary — 1:3 (0:0)

Goals: 0:1 Shalo (61), 0:2 Kiprich (70), 0:3 Kiprich (84, from penalty), 1:3 Hetko (90).

Ukraine: Kutepov, Luzhnyi, Nikiforov, Bezhenar, Tretiak, Kovalec, Tsymbalar, Shelepnytskyi, Salenko (Hetko, 59), Pogodin (Sak, 56), Shcherbakov (Husiev, 69). Coach: Viktor Prokopenko.

Hungary: Brokhouser (Tamas Balog, 88), Monosh, Telek, Shimun, Lerin (Kovach, 86), Limperger (Tibor Balog, 58), Kiprich, Marton (Illies, 82), Shalo (Pishont, 74), Lipchei, Vince. Coach: Emerich Enyey.

Warnings: Kovalec — Monosh, Shalo.

Referee: V. Zhuk (Belarus).

April 29, 1992. Uzhhorod. "Avangard" stadium. 13,000 spectators.