League

Xalkida
Spectators: 5005 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 5) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Vassilis Apostolidis took the kick off in the first half of the match. 7 minutes into the match, Xalkida's goal looked a bit too open when Miltiadis Bitsikas came free, but Marinos Stabouloglou reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. CASTELAN's Stergios Neophytou played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Vassilis Apostolidis in the 8th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ntinos Symeonas in the 10th minute of play forced Xalkida's goalkeeper Marinos Stabouloglou to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 12 minutes into the game, Stefanos Tsouknidas cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-0. Stergios Neophytou was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 19th match minute, Xalkida was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Thomas Maras to maneuver through the defense. 21 minutes into the game, Ermis Pachopoulos was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Xalkida's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave CASTELAN the free kick. Ermis Pachopoulos kicked well hit freekick during the 22nd minute of the match. In the 23rd minute, Miltiadis Bitsikas hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 25 minutes into the match, Xalkida's goal looked a bit too open when Miltiadis Bitsikas came free, but Marinos Stabouloglou reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Iason Kapsis's late challenge caught a CASTELAN's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Iason Kapsis helped the player get up and apologised. Iason Kapsis hit a great freekick 27 minutes into the match. After 30 minutes of play Xalkida's Ermis Pachopoulos was too eager in his attempt to stop his opponent and brought him down. With that he got his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. The supporters of CASTELAN booed when Xalkida was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 30 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ermis Pachopoulos didn't get a good kick on the ball. 32 minutes into the match, Xalkida's goal looked a bit too open when Ntinos Symeonas came free, but Marinos Stabouloglou reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 33rd match minute, CASTELAN was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alkinoos Moustafidis to maneuver through the defense. Vassilis Apostolidis blasted a shot towards the goal in the 36th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Stergios Neophytou having to make a save. Marinos Stabouloglou stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Ntinos Symeonas's shot from short distance in the 41st minute. 42 minutes into the match, Xalkida's goal looked a bit too open when Miltiadis Bitsikas came free, but Marinos Stabouloglou reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 44th minute Ntinos Symeonas shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Marinos Stabouloglou saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 46 minutes into the match, Xalkida's goal looked a bit too open when Ntinos Symeonas came free, but Marinos Stabouloglou reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 1-0 at half-time.

In the 56th minute, Ntinos Symeonas hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Marinos Stabouloglou took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Miltiadis Bitsikas, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Stergios Neophytou made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Stefanos Tsouknidas in the 63rd minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Miltiadis Bitsikas in the 66th minute of play forced Xalkida's goalkeeper Marinos Stabouloglou to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Leonidas Loukidis got free with Marinos Stabouloglou in the 67th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The nice shot from Ntinos Symeonas in the 80thth minute just in front of the goal should have ended in point on the board, but Marinos Stabouloglou had a great feel for the game and superbly saved the ball from getting in by the left post. Vassilis Apostolidis sent away a hard shot on goal in the 81st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Vassilis Apostolidis in the 85th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Stergios Neophytou prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 88 minutes into the match, Ntinos Symeonas notched a goal, 1-2, to the right of Xalkida's Marinos Stabouloglou. Marinos Stabouloglou was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. After 96 minutes, Fragiskos Giannakoulis mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the CASTELAN and the Xalkida players grew even worse after the yellow card. Fragiskos Giannakoulis hit a great freekick 96 minutes into the match. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched CASTELAN eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.