League

Ellinokastron Stadiu
Spectators: 6759 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1759, VIP seats: 0) Opayia's Markos Sioufas started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. 3 minutes into the match, Markos Sioufas notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of Ellinokastron BC's Sotos Tabakos. Sotos Tabakos was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. 11 minutes into the game, Opayia's Markos Sioufas nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Sotos Tabakos made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-2. If Markos Sioufas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 16th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Sotos Tabakos made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Markos Sioufas in the 21st minute of play. After 24 played minutes Opayia got a freekick which was hit by Makis Persidis. After a rather tough play, Opayia's Makis Persidis got a free kick in the 26th minute. Sotos Tabakos showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Paschalis Koupepes in the 37th minute of the match. Paschalis Koupepes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 38th 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 Paschalis Koupepes in the 40th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Sotos Tabakos prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Markos Sioufas recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 42nd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 43rd minute Paschalis Koupepes shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Sotos Tabakos saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Kleanthis Macheras to make the kick off. Paschalis Koupepes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 58th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The supporters of Ellinokastron BC booed when Opayia was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 61 match minutes in a wonderful position. Charalambos Ververis didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 62nd minute the ball was on its way in behind Opayia's goalkeeper Thalis Xinos, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Kleanthis Macheras in the 64th minute of play forced Opayia's goalkeeper Thalis Xinos to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 64 played minutes Opayia got a freekick which was hit by Iordanis Gazis. 69 minutes into the match, Ellinokastron BC's goalkeeper Sotos Tabakos had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Paschalis Koupepes. Paschalis Koupepes might have been able to make a better finish in the 70th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Sotos Tabakos. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Paschalis Koupepes ran back to his position shaking his head. The supporters of Opayia booed when Ellinokastron BC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 74 match minutes in a wonderful position. Periklis Botinos didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Opayia's Paschalis Koupepes, in the 75th minute, received a pass right in front of the net, it looked like a certain goal, but his shot went outside. A wasted opportunity for Opayia. Markos Sioufas struck a weak shot in the 77th minute. Sotos Tabakos didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Opayia. When Iordanis Gazis fell near the penalty area in the 80th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Opayia's protests and gave Iordanis Gazis a yellow card for diving instead. In the 80th minute, Iordanis Gazis hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Kleanthis Macheras sent away a hard shot on goal in the 82nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After some fancy dribbling in the 89th minute, Markos Sioufas managed to get in a good position for a shot. Opayia's supporters rose to their feet, but Markos Sioufas was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Sotos Tabakos breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Sotos Tabakos made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Markos Sioufas in the 93rd minute of play. In the 96thth minute of the game Markos Sioufas who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Ellinokastron BC's Sotos Tabakos was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Opayia's fans were overjoyed with their teams well-earned victory and stayed in the stadium long after the final whistle to celebrate the win.