League Play-Off

Polítsiani Stadium
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Vaggelis Chiloudakis made the kick off and thus started the match. Thomas Kabouras sent away a hard shot on goal in the 4th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Daniil Botsaris could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 11th minute of the match, but Kostas Stathopoulos made a huge save. In the 13th match minute, AO Xanthi was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Petros Panagou to maneuver through the defense. 15 minutes into the match, Polítsiani FC's goal looked a bit too open when Thomas Kabouras came free, but Dimitris Valassidis reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 22ndth minute of the game Thomas Kabouras who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Polítsiani FC's Dimitris Valassidis was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. When the match clock showed 22 minutes, the score became 0-2 when Thomas Kabouras sped through Polítsiani FC's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Dimitris Valassidis. Giorgos Traboukidis's late challenge caught a AO Xanthi's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Giorgos Traboukidis helped the player get up and apologised. In the 31st match minute, AO Xanthi was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Pavlos Petkakis to maneuver through the defense. After 35 played minutes, Polítsiani FC's Marios Tsakiris shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Kostas Stathopoulos came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Polítsiani FC reached it. After 37 played minutes Polítsiani FC got a freekick which was hit by Giorgos Traboukidis. AO Xanthi's Babbis Spazocheris got a good chance for a goal in the 40th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After some fancy dribbling in the 42nd minute, Thomas Kabouras managed to get in a good position for a shot. AO Xanthi's supporters rose to their feet, but Thomas Kabouras was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Dimitris Valassidis breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Polítsiani FC's Dimitris Valassidis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Thomas Kabouras in the 44th minute of play. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Thomas Kabouras in the 48th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Dimitris Valassidis prevented the ball from getting in the gole. The Polítsiani FC players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. AO Xanthi were winning 0-2.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Thomas Kabouras stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After a defensive mix-up in AO Xanthi's zone, Daniil Botsaris stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Kostas Stathopoulos came out of the goal and Daniil Botsaris tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Dimitris Valassidis was out of position in the 55 minute of play, and Thomas Kabouras capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Thomas Kabouras really showed his touch with that goal: 0-3. Kostas Stathopoulos took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Daniil Botsaris, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Thomas Kabouras might have been able to make a better finish in the 63rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Dimitris Valassidis. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Thomas Kabouras ran back to his position shaking his head. When Petros Panagou came up free with the goalie in the 69th minute, the AO Xanthi fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Petros Panagou couldn't finish the play. Dimitris Konstantaras kicked well hit freekick during the 73rd minute of the match. In the 78th minute of the match Nikitas Kitrinidis sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Kostas Stathopoulos skillfully saved the ball. In the 79th minute, Apostolis Tsartas got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. After 85 played minutes Polítsiani FC got a freekick which was hit by Dimitris Konstantaras. 87 minutes into the match, AO Xanthi's Thomas Kabouras sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Dimitris Valassidis narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Dimitris Valassidis showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Thomas Kabouras, who was totally free with the ball in the 91st minute. AO Xanthi played a much better game than Polítsiani FC and deserved their victory. The Polítsiani FC players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.