35 years since the match with Videoton: Željo's game that is still talked about today

(Patria) - On this day, April 24, 1985, a historic match was played at Grbavica. Namely, the most decorated BiH football club, Željezničar, had the opportunity to qualify for the UEFA Cup final (today's Champions League) and meet the popular royal club - Real Madrid there. So, on April 24, 1985, Željezničar played the second leg of the semi-final against Hungarian Videoton. It was a match that is still recounted today, not only at Grbavica and in Sarajevo, but also in other Balkan countries that once made up SFR Yugoslavia.

However, let's start from the beginning. The first match was played in Székesfehérvár seven days earlier. The first half lived up to the description of a semi-final. The Hungarians took a 2-0 lead after mistakes by Željo's defense, but Željo quickly responded and reduced the deficit to 2-1 with a goal by Haris Škoro. The result was good for the "blues" who concentrated more on defense than attack in the second half. But, such a game was ultimately fatal. Towards the end of the match, Videoton managed to score a goal to make it 3-1, thus increasing their chances of advancing. Željo was left with only the consolation of playing the second leg in front of their fans and being able to win with their support.

The second leg match attracted an exceptionally large number of spectators to "Grbavica" (the popular "Valley of Cups"). The attendance was approximately 25,000 people. The start of the match was eagerly awaited. Regardless of the result from the first match, Željo had high hopes of still beating the Hungarians. Already in the 5th minute, Edin Bahtić scored the opening goal. After a scramble in front of the Hungarian goalkeeper, Bahtić found himself in the best position and scored on his second attempt. Željo continued to play offensively, and chances came one after another. But, the Videoton defense managed to thwart all of them. In the second half, Željo continued to play as in the first half, and Čurić had the chance of the match. After a run by Škoro, who bypassed 3 Videoton players, he unselfishly passed to Čurić on the right side, who took a low shot. The ball passed the goalkeeper but went a few millimeters wide of the goal. Čurić, the stadium, the coaching staff, the players, everyone was in disbelief. Then Bahtić had another chance to score, but his header went wide of the goal.

Mehmed Baždarević - the popular "Meša" - played one of his best games for Željo, distributing balls to his teammates as if on a conveyor belt. Čurić, however, redeemed himself for the previous big miss when he increased Željo's lead to 2-0 in the middle of the second half. Bahtić had previously crossed, and the Hungarian goalkeeper made a mistake. Čurić was in the right place and increased the chances of reaching the final with his goal. It was the result that would have taken Željezničar to the UEFA Cup final. It is difficult to describe the fans' celebration at the time of the goal.

Once again, Željo could have scored, and thus confirmed their advancement, when the Videoton defense miraculously cleared Bahtić's shot from in front of the goal. And then the 87th minute arrived. In one of the few attacks by the Hungarians, right-back Czuhay scored to make it 2-1. Silence fell over the stadium, a goal conceded out of nowhere, and the familiar gestures of Ivica Osim, the then coach of FK Željezničar. Željo tried to do something after conceding the goal, but failed. The final whistle of the referee meant the end of all hopes for Ivica Osim's team and thousands of sad fans in a packed stadium. The Hungarians went on to face Real Madrid in the final, where they were defeated 3-1.