U21 League

GENTI KULE
Spectators: 158 (Terracing: 119, Seating: 36, VIP seats: 3) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Soulis Orfanos started the match with the kick off. 5 minutes into the game, Alekos Volakis was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. AC Milan's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave ΟΦΗ the free kick. Stefanos Mavrakoglou struck a weak shot in the 9th minute. Nikos Kosmidis didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for ΟΦΗ. 10 minutes into the game, AC Milan's Diogenis Gittas nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Eleftherios Papakostis made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. After a rather tough play, AC Milan's Fotis Kapiris got a free kick in the 12th minute. In the 17th minute, Evripidis Koutsoukos hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Aimilios Lagos sent away a hard shot on goal in the 34th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Nikos Kosmidis showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Soulis Orfanos in the 37th minute of the match. After a defensive mix-up in ΟΦΗ's zone, Diogenis Gittas stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Eleftherios Papakostis came out of the goal and Diogenis Gittas tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Eleftherios Papakostis stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Diogenis Gittas's shot from short distance in the 47th minute. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Leonidas Kavourmatzis during the 57th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 58 played minutes ΟΦΗ got a freekick which was hit by Leonidas Kavourmatzis. Eleftherios Papakostis showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Diogenis Nestorakis in the 59th minute of the match. 61 minutes into the match, AC Milan's goal looked a bit too open when Soulis Orfanos came free, but Nikos Kosmidis reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Panagiotis Michaloliakos hit a great freekick 61 minutes into the match. A collision led to ΟΦΗ getting a freekick after 65 minutes play. Fokas Koumentakis hit a great ball. In the 69th minute Soulis Orfanos shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nikos Kosmidis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Nikos Kosmidis showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Fokas Koumentakis, who was totally free with the ball in the 70th minute. Nikos Kosmidis took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Soulis Orfanos, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 73 minutes into the match, AC Milan's goal looked a bit too open when Fokas Koumentakis came free, but Nikos Kosmidis reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When Diogenis Nestorakis fell near the penalty area in the 74th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored AC Milan's protests and gave Diogenis Nestorakis a yellow card for diving instead. Diogenis Gittas could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 76th minute of the match, but Eleftherios Papakostis made a huge save. Eleftherios Papakostis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Diogenis Gittas in the 78th minute of play. Panos Tachtsidis received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Eleftherios Papakostis came out and tried to block the shot, but Panos Tachtsidis slotted it home off the left post making it 0-2 in the 80th minute. 83 minutes into the match, AC Milan's goal looked a bit too open when Soulis Orfanos came free, but Nikos Kosmidis reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Nikos Kosmidis didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Panagiotis Michaloliakos went, in the 86th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-2 was the resulting score. Diogenis Gittas recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 90th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 91st match minute, ΟΦΗ was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Panagiotis Katsapis to maneuver through the defense. 92 minutes into the match, ΟΦΗ's goalkeeper Eleftherios Papakostis had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Zacharias Kaikis. After 94 played minutes ΟΦΗ got a freekick which was hit by Leonidas Kavourmatzis. AC Milan's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.