Walter Chalá – Rubin Kazan (08/24/2011)

Here is a collector's item of great rarity, from the cut-throat clashes of the Champions League. This match issued (prepared for the match) jersey was assigned to the Ecuadorian striker Walter Chalá during the reception of Olympique Lyonnais, on August 24, 2011, for the second leg of the qualification play-offs for the group stage.

Match Context: Lyon Resists the Tatarstan Trap

Winners of the first leg in Gerland (3-1), Rémi Garde's Lyon team traveled to the Central Stadium in Kazan with a valuable but fragile advantage. Against a Russian block renowned for its rigor and danger at home, the battle promised to be intense in the coolness of Tatarstan.

The match swung in the last fifteen minutes when Rubin Kazan opened the scoring through Bebras Natcho (77th minute), sending a wave of panic through the Rhône camp. Pushed to their limits, Les Gones responded magnificently in the 87th minute: from a perfectly placed corner by Kim Källström, Bakary Koné rose higher than everyone else and headed in the equalizer. Lyon secured a draw (1-1) and officially booked their ticket for the Champions League group stage, shattering Russian hopes.

Walter Chalá: A South American Bet on Russian Soil

A young, fast, and incisive striker, a youth international with Ecuador, Walter Chalá had just made the leap to Europe by joining Rubin Kazan at the beginning of 2011 to perfect his learning at the highest level.

For this decisive clash against the Lyon armada, the quick-witted Ecuadorian player was not included in Kurban Berdyev's matchday squad and had to watch his team's elimination from the stands of the Central Stadium. Carefully prepared by the Russian club's kit manager for the locker room, this jersey bears the exclusive details and official patches of the most prestigious European competition. A unique collector's item for specialists in Eastern jerseys or followers of OL's European sagas.