Official Cup

KLEANTHIS VIKELIDIS
Spectators: 524 (Terracing: 394, Seating: 120, VIP seats: 10) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Chu Zhen Xun took the kick off in the first half of the match. In the 2nd minute, Abubakar Kamarád 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. In the 9th minute Christian Burgo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Marios Sabanis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Marios Sabanis showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Christian Burgo in the 11th minute of the match. In the 12th match minute, ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C. was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Aris Keskeridis to maneuver through the defense. Marios Sabanis took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Christian Burgo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Kwyjibo were awarded a corner in the 16th minute after ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C.'s defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Sven McNamara took the corner. An unexpectedly hard shot by Matthis Paelemans in the 17th minute of play forced Kwyjibo's goalkeeper Sylwester Wawro to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Christian Burgo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 19th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C.'s Marios Sabanis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Christian Burgo in the 19th minute of play. A hard shot 21 in the game by Abubakar Kamarád from a close distance when the talented Sylwester Wawro managed to make a qualified save. Kwyjibo's players were relieved. Marios Sabanis showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Christian Burgo, who was totally free with the ball in the 24th minute. 29 minutes into the match, ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C.'s goal looked a bit too open when Christian Burgo came free, but Marios Sabanis reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 32nd match minute, ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C. was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Aris Keskeridis to maneuver through the defense. Sylwester Wawro took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Chu Zhen Xun, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience was convinced that Christian Burgo's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Marios Sabanis was relentless in the 36th minute of the game. 38 minutes had been played when some careless play by ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C.'s defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Sven McNamara was slow to take the kick. During this time Kwyjibo's players had a chance to rest. Sven McNamara made a great header on Kwyjibo's corner, it was just that ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C.'s Marios Sabanis managed to reach the ball for a save. After having played for 40 minutes, Anestis Tsoukalas managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C.'s supporters crossed their fingers, but Anestis Tsoukalas was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Christian Burgo in the 45th minute of play forced ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C.'s goalkeeper Marios Sabanis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 47 minutes into the match, ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C.'s goal looked a bit too open when Christian Burgo came free, but Marios Sabanis reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Christian Burgo to make the kick off. In the 54th minute, Christian Burgo reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Marios Sabanis. The goal made the score 1-1. In the 59th minute, Matthis Paelemans made a precise shot to the right of Sylwester Wawro. Kwyjibo's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-1. When ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C.'s Matthis Paelemans in the 63rd minute got a chance for a shot 63rd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Kwyjibo's goalie prevented a goal. Christian Burgo's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Marios Sabanis read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 75th minute of play. With a little luck, ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C.'s Marios Sabanis got control of the ball when Christian Burgo tried to sneak it across the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Matthis Paelemans in the 82nd minute of play forced Kwyjibo's goalkeeper Sylwester Wawro to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When Christian Burgo came up free with the goalie in the 84th minute, the Kwyjibo 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 Christian Burgo couldn't finish the play. After 93 played minutes Kwyjibo got a freekick which was hit by Etxepare Angostina. Neither ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C. or Kwyjibo succeeded in finding a winner during the second half. That meant the players faced another 30 minutes of extra-time.

The players didn't get much rest, but they still tried to pep each other up as they lined up for the first half in overtime. ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C.'s Chu Zhen Xun started the play with his kick off. A collision led to ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C. getting a freekick after 100 minutes play. Aris Keskeridis hit a great ball. A nice corner shot did that Chu Zhen Xun got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Sylwester Wawro quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Christian Burgo in the 110th minute of play forced ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C.'s goalkeeper Marios Sabanis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Marios Sabanis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Christian Burgo in the 111th minute of play. In the 112th minute, Aris Keskeridis hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C. players wondered just what they needed to do win this one. 105 minutes had now been played and the teams were still tied. Penalties were starting to look likely.

Christian Burgo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 117th minute of the match, but Marios Sabanis made a huge save. Kwyjibo's Sylwester Wawro played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Abubakar Kamarád in the 119th minute of play. In the 120th minute Matthis Paelemans shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Sylwester Wawro saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Christian Burgo in the 123rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Marios Sabanis saved ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C. from getting behind. After 128th play minutes Christian Burgo shot 3-4, a short shot which went by Marios Sabanis and just under the crossbar into goal.