League Play-Off

Kariá Stadium
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Helios Preftokis kicked off to start the match. The supporters of APOEL F.C booed when ROSTOV F.C was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 8 match minutes in a wonderful position. Skeiron Triantis didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 9th minute of the match Thorikos Antonakos shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Asopos Manoukarakis showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. In the 18th minute, Panos Chrysanthopoulos hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The audience thought a goal was coming when Aison Antipas got free with Haimon Banos in the 19th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Aison Antipas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 25th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. APOEL F.C's Kalkhas Patrianakos got a good chance for a goal in the 31st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Kalkhas Patrianakos in the 33rd minute of play forced ROSTOV F.C's goalkeeper Asopos Manoukarakis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When Pavlos Pispinis fell near the penalty area in the 34th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored ROSTOV F.C's protests and gave Pavlos Pispinis a yellow card for diving instead. A collision led to ROSTOV F.C getting a freekick after 34 minutes play. Pavlos Pispinis hit a great ball. After 37 played minutes APOEL F.C got a freekick which was hit by Panos Chrysanthopoulos. ROSTOV F.C's Asopos Manoukarakis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Renos Mestas in the 40th minute of play. Asopos Manoukarakis showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Renos Mestas in the 43rd minute of the match. After 46 minutes of play, ROSTOV F.C's Aison Antipas made it 1-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Haimon Banos was left in no man's land by his defense there! The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 1-0 at half-time.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Renos Mestas to strike the kick off in the second half. 54 minutes into the game, Leonidas Tsarouhtsis was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. ROSTOV F.C's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave APOEL F.C the free kick. The supporters of APOEL F.C booed when ROSTOV F.C was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 54 match minutes in a wonderful position. Leonidas Tsarouhtsis didn't get a good kick on the ball. With a little luck, ROSTOV F.C's Asopos Manoukarakis got control of the ball when Kalkhas Patrianakos tried to sneak it across the goal line. When APOEL F.C's Renos Mestas in the 58th minute got a chance for a shot 58th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye ROSTOV F.C's goalie prevented a goal. Renos Mestas charged in rather forcefully in the 59th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Renos Mestas the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. A collision led to APOEL F.C getting a freekick after 59 minutes play. Renos Mestas hit a great ball. Kalkhas Patrianakos who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 61stth minute tested the skills of Asopos Manoukarakis when he managed to save the team from getting behind. ROSTOV F.C's Asopos Manoukarakis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Renos Mestas in the 63rd minute of play. When APOEL F.C's Renos Mestas in the 68th minute got a chance for a shot 68th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye ROSTOV F.C's goalie prevented a goal. Asopos Manoukarakis showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Renos Mestas in the 70th minute of the match. Leonidas Tsarouhtsis got his second yellow card in the match during the 70th minute which meant that he had to leave the ground. After 71 played minutes ROSTOV F.C got a freekick which was hit by Leonidas Tsarouhtsis. Asopos Manoukarakis showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Renos Mestas in the 72nd minute of the match. Through an outstanding action, after 76 minutes, Asopos Manoukarakis successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. An unexpectedly hard shot by Renos Mestas in the 79th minute of play forced ROSTOV F.C's goalkeeper Asopos Manoukarakis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 80 minutes into the match, APOEL F.C's goal looked a bit too open when Aison Antipas came free, but Haimon Banos reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Kalkhas Patrianakos could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 81st minute of the match, but Asopos Manoukarakis made a huge save. Kalkhas Patrianakoss short, quick shot in the 85thth minute got Asopos Manoukarakis to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Panos Chrysanthopoulos kicked well hit freekick during the 87th minute of the match. 88 minutes into the match, APOEL F.C's goal looked a bit too open when Kanake Orfanos came free, but Haimon Banos reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The long shot by Panos Chrysanthopoulos in the 97th minute really tested Asopos Manoukarakis's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The ROSTOV F.C fans cheered their team off the field, for while APOEL F.C had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.