U18 League

TOYMPA
Spectators: 152 (Terracing: 114, Seating: 35, VIP seats: 3) Weltevedren's Arturo Morelli 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. If Aris Skaboulis had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 5th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Amos Giansante sent away a hard shot on goal in the 7th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Chrisostomos Benakis took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Arturo Morelli, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Akis Agathakis kicked well hit freekick during the 11th minute of the match. After 16 minutes of play, Weltevedren's Amos Giansante made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Chrisostomos Benakis was left in no man's land by his defense there! In the 19th minute, Giannis Kadoglou left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The PAOK FC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. Lakis Vernikos struck a weak shot in the 30th minute. Biagio Scatena didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for PAOK FC. If Amos Giansante had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 32nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. PAOK FC's Chrisostomos Benakis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Edmondo Macchione in the 34th minute of play. Chrisostomos Benakis showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Arturo Morelli, who was totally free with the ball in the 38th minute. In the 45th minute, Lakis Vernikos fired away a killer shot towards the goal that, to the delight of Biagio Scatena, passed just outside the right post. After a defensive mix-up in Weltevedren's zone, Giannis Kadoglou stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Biagio Scatena came out of the goal and Giannis Kadoglou tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After the first half Weltevedren were leading 1-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Giannis Kadoglou was the one to do the kick off. Biagio Scatena showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lakis Vernikos in the 53rd minute of the match. In the 59th minute, Apostolis Frantzeskos hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 65th minute the ball was on its way in behind PAOK FC's goalkeeper Chrisostomos Benakis, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Edmondo Macchione hit a great freekick 68 minutes into the match. In the 72nd match minute, Weltevedren was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Amos Giansante to maneuver through the defense. In the 76th minute, Edmondo Macchione 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. With his leg Chrisostomos Benakis managed to avoid a goal in the 87thth minute, when Weltevedren's Arturo Morelli fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. In the 90th minute, Amos Giansante left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Weltevedren fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-3. When the referee blew the final whistle jeers and boos were heard from the home team's supporters. They were angered to see PAOK FC lose a match they had controlled from the kick-off.