Former Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Andriy Totovytsky shared his memories of the legendary match that took place on May 2, 2014. In that encounter, the Pitmen hosted Mariupol's Illichivets, for whom Totovytsky was playing at the time. The game ended in a defeat for the visitors, but it was Andriy who went down in history as the scorer of the last official goal against the Donetsk club at the region's main sports arena.
The alarming atmosphere of the conflict's beginning
According to the footballer, the match took place in an extremely tense environment, as dramatic events related to the illegal seizure of power by pro-Russian separatists were already unfolding in Donetsk. The atmosphere around the team was permeated with anxiety and uncertainty. The match participants and staff clearly understood the scale of the ongoing changes that would forever alter the usual way of life in the city and the club.
Andriy Totovytsky recalls that even during the game, the sounds of gunshots and explosions could be heard both inside and outside the stadium. This created unprecedented psychological pressure on the athletes, who had to take to the field and perform their professional duties amid escalating military confrontation and security threats.
Memories of the Donbass Arena
Despite the grim context of those days, the midfielder remembers the Donbass Arena itself with exceptional warmth and deep respect. In his interview, he called this stadium the best sports facility he had ever played in during his entire professional career. The footballer noted the arena's incredible architecture, pitch quality, and the unique atmosphere created by the club's dedicated fans.
The player shared that he holds the brightest and warmest memories of that period of his life, playing for the reserve squad in friendlies against the main team, and attending matches of the main squad in front of full stands. According to Totovytsky, he still genuinely misses Donetsk, the club base, and recalls that time with tears in his eyes, as the city and the stadium became an important part of his destiny.
Contradictory data
In the context of discussing the match on May 2, 2014, and the status of the Donbass Arena in sports media, discussions sometimes arise regarding the exact chronological order of the last mass events and official matches held at the stadium before its final closure and transition under the control of forces not controlled by the Ukrainian authorities. While official statistics clearly record the Ukrainian Premier League match between Shakhtar and Illichivets as the tournament's last official game, some sources interpret differently the degree of the arena's accessibility for fans in the subsequent days of the spring of 2014 prior to the official cessation of sports activities at the facility.
Aftermath and significance for fans
The events of the spring of 2014 became a turning point not only for the history of Shakhtar, which was forced to leave its home and base itself in other cities of Ukraine, but also for all domestic football. The Donbass Arena, recognized as one of the most modern and technological stadiums in Europe, remained a symbol of the peaceful and prosperous era of the Donetsk club. Andriy Totovytsky's emotional confessions reflect the feelings of thousands of players, staff, and fans for whom their hometown and stadium remain both an unhealed wound and a bright memory at the same time.
