League Play-Off

Zálongon Stadium
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Alexis Kaplanopoulos got the match started through his kick off. A collision led to ARIS getting a freekick after 7 minutes play. Sotos Matsas hit a great ball. Konstantinos Ifantidis could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 8th minute of the match, but Giorgos Zafiriou made a huge save. 9 minutes into the match, ARIS's goalkeeper Giorgos Zafiriou had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Giannis Fanopoulos. The supporters of ARIS booed when Zálongon was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 15 match minutes in a wonderful position. Dimitris Tapinos didn't get a good kick on the ball. Alexis Kaplanopoulos succeeded in the game's 20th minute to shoot an unreachable shot under the crossbar and scored - 0-2. After 24 played minutes Zálongon got a freekick which was hit by Aimilios Sioufas. In the 25th minute Markos Kalamarakis shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Alekos Vallas saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Dimitris Galanis hit a great freekick 26 minutes into the match. When ARIS's Alexis Kaplanopoulos in the 30th minute got a chance for a shot 30th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Zálongon's goalie prevented a goal. In the 32nd minute Giannis Fanopoulos shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Giorgos Zafiriou saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 34 minutes into the match, Zálongon's goal looked a bit too open when Alexis Kaplanopoulos came free, but Alekos Vallas reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 35 played minutes Zálongon got a freekick which was hit by Aimilios Sioufas. Markos Kalamarakis fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 38th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Alekos Vallas having to interfere. After 41 played minutes Zálongon got a freekick which was hit by Aimilios Sioufas. Giannis Fanopoulos took the ball and in the 44 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Giorgos Zafiriou. Giorgos Zafiriou dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-2. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 1-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Markos Zotalis to strike the kick off in the second half. In the 54th minute of the match Zálongon got a corner. ARIS's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Dimitris Tapinos ran over to the corner to take the kick. After 57 played minutes ARIS got a freekick which was hit by Sotos Matsas. After a defensive mix-up in Zálongon's zone, Markos Kalamarakis stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Alekos Vallas came out of the goal and Markos Kalamarakis tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 63rd minute Giannis Fanopoulos shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Giorgos Zafiriou saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Giorgos Zafiriou took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Markos Zotalis, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. A collision led to Zálongon getting a freekick after 68 minutes play. Dimitris Tapinos hit a great ball. Alekos Vallas made a fantastic save in the 69th minute, when Alexis Kaplanopoulos sent off a good shot on target. Giorgos Zafiriou showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Markos Zotalis in the 73rd minute of the match. When Dimitris Tapinos fell near the penalty area in the 75th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Zálongon's protests and gave Dimitris Tapinos a yellow card for diving instead. After 75 played minutes Zálongon got a freekick which was hit by Dimitris Tapinos. Alexis Kaplanopoulos might have been able to make a better finish in the 76th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Alekos Vallas. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Alexis Kaplanopoulos ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 79th minute, Giannis Fanopoulos hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 81stth minute of the game Alexis Kaplanopoulos who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Zálongon's Alekos Vallas was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. In the 84th minute, one of Zálongon:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Zálongon. 90 minutes into the match, ARIS's goal looked a bit too open when Aimilios Sioufas came free, but Giorgos Zafiriou reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Markos Kalamarakis received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 94th minute. Alekos Vallas tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The Zálongon fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. ARIS were clearly better and deserved to take the win.