GoalChatter Special Report

World Cup Qualifying in Sheepshead Bay

Second from left: 1962 WC participant Viktor Kanevskyi © Aleks V 2013

Yankee Stadium's Soccer Series is like your birthday - it only happens once a year, so you better make the most of it. Manchester City took on Chelsea FC, and as in last year's Real Madrid-AC Milan game, there were plenty of goals to entertain the masses. Manchester City players took the field first, wearing NYCFC t-shirts to promote the club's project with the Yankees and usher in a new era. There was instant booing when the referees were announced, oddly a precursor of things to come as the official ignored several challenges and denied Chelsea a penalty in the course of the game. City fans were visibly outnumbered, but they stood out nonetheless - all it took was a Balotelli jersey and constant chanting. Of course, Chelsea fans were keen on seeing some action from Fernando Torres, and although he had a few chances, the striker wasn't at his best. Instead, it was Oscar, Ramires and Juan Mata who stole the show for the Blues. There's nothing more exciting than eating a well-prepared hot dog and watching Oscar make vital passes or Juan Mata net one in from a free kick. Though it was my second time ever at Yankee Stadium, it felt like the 22nd. Whether it's the triumphant, overwhelming pride that brings thousands together during the U.S. national anthem, the never-ending attempts at a wave, or the friendly environment where even a supporter in a Manchester United jacket felt at home, the arena's atmosphere never fails to impress. Till next year, Yankee Stadium.

A Manchester United fan wearing a NY Rangers hat holds up a Chelsea rain cape.

International Friendly


Watch a brilliant montage I did of footage during the game, including Juan Mata's free kick goal!

Groups of supporters, a politician, and a TV station all piled in to an auditorium in Brooklyn. It wasn't a political debate or a charity auction. The popular Russian radio station Davidzon Radio had run an ad about an event in honor of FC Dynamo Kiev's 85th anniversary. There was no information online or elsewhere, and the venue was still completely packed. Veteran Dynamo fans were easily recognizable with their official team scarves and vintage jerseys. There were a few younger fans, as well. One fellow donned a Champions League cap with an older Kiev logo. Another wore a Shevchenko National Team jersey.

Soon, club Vice President Aleksei Semenenko was joined by three legendary Dynamo players:

Viktor Kanevskyi, former captain and striker, leading goalscorer among Dynamo forwards and 6th top goalscorer overall, 1961 Soviet Top League champion, winner of the 1964 Soviet Cup

Andriy Biba, former captain and midfielder, 3-time Soviet Top League winner, 2-time Soviet Cup winner, 1966 Soviet footballer of the year, currently a scout for Dynamo Kiev

Volodymyr Muntyan
former midfielder, former teammate of Oleh Blokhin, only player (along with Blokhin) to have won 7 Soviet Championships, 2-time Soviet Cup Winner, winner of the 1975 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and Super Cup, 1969 Soviet Footballer of the Year, 1970 Ukrainian Footballer of the Year


Dynamo's trio then and now. (Bottom photo by Aleks V)

Despite the success all three players had at the club, they were never on the same roster together, separated by only a few years' history. While Muntyan and Biba played together for Kiev, Kanevskyi had left for FC Chornomorets Odessa in 1965, the same year that Muntyan joined the team. Kanevskyi did, however, play alongside Biba. They were all capped for the Soviet National Team, but none of their paths crossed on the international level. Muntyan had the longest NT spell, playing for 8 years. All of Dynamo's former stars had managerial careers at multiple clubs, yet only Andriy Biba had the opportunity to come back to Dynamo, working as an assistant in the early 70's.

If there's one person who united the three players more than any other, it would be Dynamo Kiev's most respected and well-known manager, Valeriy Lobanovskiy. The latter is one of the most important figures in the club's history. In November 2012, football clubs in three age categories met in New York City for the 10th International Soccer Tournament in Memory of Valeriy Lobanovskiy. Dynamo's famous 1961 lineup included captain Kanevskyi (second from the top left), Lobanovskiy (first from the bottom left), and Biba (fourth from the bottom left):
The crowd settled down, and a few clips concerning the club's supporters and history were shown, including interviews with other former players. After former teammates presented a series of gifts and awards, it was time for the question and answer session. Many fans reminisced about games or other players they had remembered from the club's golden era. Most of the questions were along the lines of "whatever happened to so-and-so?" There was some criticism of the current state of the club, however. Some expressed concern with the club's current performance, despite the fact that Kiev almost always makes the top 3 in the Ukrainian Premier League.

I chose the opportunity to ask, "do you think there is a team in one of the bigger leagues, like the English Premier League or La Liga, that has a similar playing style or philosophy to Dynamo Kiev?"

After the awe and applause died down, a fan got up to talk about Ajax, but Volodymyr Muntyan had a few different clubs in mind. "To answer your question - I would say Manchester United, Arsenal, Barcelona...but for today's Dynamo Kiev to be like Barcelona, we need to find a Lionel Messi, a Xavi...

The Dynamo of the 70's was probably most like Barcelona. If today's Barcelona played against the 1975 Dynamo Kiev, we might not necessarily have won, but we would have definitely given them a challenge."

It's quite likely that the match would have been just as Muntyan imagined. He and current Dynamo Kiev manager Oleh Blokhin were part of Lobanovskiy's 1975 Dynamo Kiev lineup. The season saw two European Cup wins and another Soviet Top League Championship. It is often seen as one of the most successful year's in the club's history.

Lobanovskiy (2nd row, 1st on the left), Blokhin (2nd row, 2nd from the right) and Muntyan (3rd row, 2nd from the right).

Needless to say, Muntyan was the star of the show. He did most of the talking, which is just as well, as he is a great storyteller, illustrating many of his tales with gestures and, occasionally, swerves and kicks.

He told a rather amusing story about scoring a goal after a corner kick delivery. It was an unexpected, instinctive one-touch finish, but of course the press had sensationalized the moment, describing how he had focused long and hard and specifically positioned himself for that shot.

It is evident from the way he addressed both Biba and Kanevskyi that Muntyan has always had a great amount of respect for his elders, both on and off the pitch.

Volodymyr Muntyan. Photo by Aleks V

I caught up with the legendary midfielder after the show. We shook hands on the stage. "Your question was good, but rather serious," he said, before signing my program.

As tons of other fans poured onto the stage to get autographs and photos with the already-exhausted veteran players, I realized I was content having had my one question answered. Of course, I had also gotten autographs from Muntyan and Kanevskyi, as well as an official Dynamo Kiev magazine from the club's Vice President for having asked one of the most interesting questions.


It was an exciting evening on many levels, and a rare opportunity to meet former players whose careers forever shape the club's decorated past.


Related videos

(0:34) Muntyan's goal in extra time during the 1974 Soviet Cup final:



(0:30) Biba's goal in Dynamo Kiev's 1966 Soviet Cup win:



(0:53) Kanevskyi scores the only goal in Dynamo Kiev's 1964 Soviet Cup win:

Yankee Stadium © Aleks V 2012

Thoughts on Going to My First Football Match 

On Wednesday, August 8, 2012, La Liga champions Real Madrid took on AC Milan at Yankee Stadium. Fans across the New York area, including myself, were given the opportunity to see two European teams close up. This was the first time I'd been to a football game, and, seeing as how I'm not an avid baseball fan, the first time I'd been to Yankee stadium. Getting to the legendary arena that was once home to the New York Cosmos was part of the fun of itself. The closer the train got to the stadium, the more fans clad in Real Madrid and AC Milan jerseys filled up the wagon. Tens of thousands of spectators poured out onto the streets. The train station was right in front of the stadium, and there were barriers to direct the flow of human traffic toward the entrance gates. After making it to the main lobby, I took the elevator to the upper level, where the Grandstand offered a spectacular panoramic view of the entire pitch. 
AC Milan Keys to the Game:
When the game finally began, the crowd had quieted down. Perhaps that sounds like a strange thing to say with regards to a football match, but until either team made a run with the ball, the arena was only mildly talkative. Milan had a few moments here and there, but mostly played a defensive game, especially after conceding their second goal to Madrid. Aside from the one defensive mishap that led to Milan's only goal, Real Madrid fulfilled and, at times, exceeded expectations. Cristiano Ronaldo was there to make the runs with the ball. His impressive dribbling skills were visible even from afar. Mesut Ozil skillfully took the corners for Madrid, Di Maria was brilliant as a goal-scorer, and even Ricardo Kaka, who came on the pitch as a late substitution for Di Maria, made his mark by assisting three of the night's goals. It is rumored that Kaka may be heading back to AC Milan, where he spent most of his career and played behind retired Ukrainian legend Andriy Shevchenko.

Madrid takes a corner. © Aleks V 2012

AC Milan players try to get the ball past Madrid's defense. © Aleks V 2012

© Aleks V 2012

© Aleks V 2012

Man of the Match: Cristiano Ronaldo