30 May 2020. Central Stadium, Mykolaiv. Goalkeeping coach Roman Chumak is in the stand, watching the final fixture of the league campaign. There are two relegation places to be decided and four teams in danger of the drop, of which MFC Mykolaiv are one. Mykolaiv are at home to Obolon-Brewer, who have secured a place in the promotion play-offs.
Mykolaiv have taken the lead after 17 minutes.
But after 23 minutes, Obolon-Brewer level, direct from a free-kick. One-all.
And then, in the 48th minute, Mykolaiv, with an absent mindedness that has characterised the defence all eason, leave Olexandr Gus’kovn unmarked on the six-yard line.
Curtains.
Chumak, who handles press conferences, revises the statement he has prepared in his head:
“It is frustrating to have come so close to beating the drop, but Obolon-Brewer were too strong for us today. I feel gutted for the fans, who have supported us magnificently through thick and thin. Everyone at the club is determined to win back our place in the league.”
Could he, Chumak wonders, add something like:
“I can confirm that, for the encouragement of others, we will be castrating all our central defenders and goalkeepers, without anaesthetic.”
Photo by Absent69 (CC BY-SA 4.0 licence)
