League Play-Off

Gortynia Arena
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Argyris Skarpathiotis took the kick off in the first half of the match. Anestis Fanakos showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Argyris Skarpathiotis in the 5th minute of the match. Thomas Stavrou's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Ermegildo Mendez firmly grabbed it by the left post. Gortynia's Anestis Fanakos played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Argyris Skarpathiotis in the 11th minute of play. The audience was convinced that Argyris Skarpathiotis's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Anestis Fanakos was relentless in the 13th minute of the game. With his leg Ermegildo Mendez managed to avoid a goal in the 16thth minute, when Gortynia's Thomas Stavrou fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. After some fancy dribbling in the 17th minute, Giorgos Trabakoulos managed to get in a good position for a shot. Gortynia's supporters rose to their feet, but Giorgos Trabakoulos was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ermegildo Mendez breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 19 minutes into the game, Gortynia's Giorgos Voulgaris nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Ermegildo Mendez made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0. Fanis Fakkas hit a great freekick 25 minutes into the match. Gortynia's Thomas Stavrou was standing unmarked in front of the goal when he, in the 29th play minute, got the ball and easily drilled it into the goal. After a rather tough play, Gortynia's Thomas Stavrou got a free kick in the 32nd minute. Argyris Skarpathiotis kicked well hit freekick during the 35th minute of the match. Ermegildo Mendez was out of position in the 36 minute of play, and Thomas Stavrou capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Thomas Stavrou really showed his touch with that goal: 3-0. When Thomas Stavrou came up free with the goalie in the 39th minute, the Gortynia 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 Thomas Stavrou couldn't finish the play. If Giorgos Trabakoulos had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 40th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Thomas Stavrou who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 42ndth minute tested the skills of Ermegildo Mendez when he managed to save the team from getting behind. ΦΟΙΝΙΚΑΣ's Ermegildo Mendez proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 44th minute of the match, managed to save ΦΟΙΝΙΚΑΣ from getting a goal against them. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 3-0.

The wind increased when Thomas Stavrou made the kick off in the second half. Ermegildo Mendez made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Thomas Stavrou in the 54th minute of play. Anestis Fanakos stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Argyris Skarpathiotis's shot from short distance in the 55th minute. In the 63rd match minute, ΦΟΙΝΙΚΑΣ was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Fanis Fakkas to maneuver through the defense. After some fancy dribbling in the 65th minute, Thomas Stavrou managed to get in a good position for a shot. Gortynia's supporters rose to their feet, but Thomas Stavrou was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ermegildo Mendez breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 69 minutes into the game, Grigoris Kouvas was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. ΦΟΙΝΙΚΑΣ's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Gortynia the free kick. After a rather tough play, ΦΟΙΝΙΚΑΣ's Grigoris Kouvas got a free kick in the 69th minute. 73 minutes into the match, ΦΟΙΝΙΚΑΣ's goal looked a bit too open when Thomas Stavrou came free, but Ermegildo Mendez reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in ΦΟΙΝΙΚΑΣ's zone, Thomas Stavrou stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ermegildo Mendez came out of the goal and Thomas Stavrou tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Ermegildo Mendez stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Thomas Stavrou's shot from short distance in the 82nd minute. If Giorgos Trabakoulos had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 82nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Anestis Fanakos was out of position in the 84 minute of play, and Argyris Skarpathiotis capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Argyris Skarpathiotis really showed his touch with that goal: 3-1. Argyris Skarpathiotis in the 88thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Anestis Fanakos, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Ermegildo Mendez showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Thomas Stavrou in the 92nd minute of the match. Gortynia walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.