League

Leningrad
Spectators: 8394 (Terracing: 6298, Seating: 1930, VIP seats: 166) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Czeslaw Drugi kicked off to start the match. The supporters of Αστέρας booed when Internationale was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 3 match minutes in a wonderful position. Valery Grau didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 6th minute Eugenios Iordanis shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Teo Otsoko saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ciriaco Piarres's late challenge caught a Αστέρας's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Ciriaco Piarres helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to Internationale getting a freekick after 10 minutes play. Ciriaco Piarres hit a great ball. The Αστέρας fans' excitement grew in the 15th match minute when Αστέρας's Vassilis Batzis looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 0-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. In the 18th match minute, Internationale was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ciriaco Piarres to maneuver through the defense. When Αστέρας's Eugenios Iordanis in the 20th minute got a chance for a shot 20th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Internationale's goalie prevented a goal. Manos Karagiannopoulos made a great header on Αστέρας's corner, it was just that Internationale's Teo Otsoko managed to reach the ball for a save. Αστέρας's defense didn't have a chance, in the 23rd minute, when Czeslaw Drugi scored to the left of an out of position Iraklis Vazakos, making the score, 1-1. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Christos Theodorakos during the 27th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 27 played minutes Internationale got a freekick which was hit by Christos Theodorakos. Theagenis Pountos hit a great freekick 29 minutes into the match. Teo Otsoko took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Eugenios Iordanis, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Αστέρας's Vassilis Batzis got a good chance for a goal in the 37th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. 40 minutes into the match, Internationale's goal looked a bit too open when Vladimiros Sismanidis came free, but Teo Otsoko reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When Vladimiros Sismanidis came up free with the goalie in the 41st minute, the Αστέρας 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 Vladimiros Sismanidis couldn't finish the play. 42 minutes into the match, Internationale's goal looked a bit too open when Vassilis Batzis came free, but Teo Otsoko reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Eugenios Iordanis in the 44th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Teo Otsoko prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Αστέρας's Dionysis Koukos got a good chance for a goal in the 45th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

Vassilis Batzis's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Teo Otsoko read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 52nd minute of play. Vassilis Batzis could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 55th minute of the match, but Teo Otsoko made a huge save. After 56 minutes, Vladimiros Sismanidis mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Αστέρας and the Internationale players grew even worse after the yellow card. Vassilis Batzis kicked well hit freekick during the 62nd minute of the match. In the 63rd minute Valery Grau shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Iraklis Vazakos saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpected shot in the 64th minute by Vassilis Batzis got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. 64 minutes into the game, Αστέρας's Vassilis Batzis nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Teo Otsoko made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-2. In the 68thth minute of the game Vassilis Batzis who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Internationale's Teo Otsoko was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. The audience was convinced that Eugenios Iordanis's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Teo Otsoko was relentless in the 69th minute of the game. Internationale's Teo Otsoko proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 71st minute of the match, managed to save Internationale from getting a goal against them. When Dionysis Koukos came up free with the goalie in the 75th minute, the Αστέρας 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 Dionysis Koukos couldn't finish the play. When the match had gone on for 77 minutes, Vassilis Batzis put it in 1-3 from a short distance just to the right of Teo Otsoko. Teo Otsoko showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Vladimiros Sismanidis, who was totally free with the ball in the 80th minute. The audience was convinced that Eugenios Iordanis's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Teo Otsoko was relentless in the 80th minute of the game. 82 minutes into the match, Αστέρας's Vladimiros Sismanidis sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Teo Otsoko narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Internationale's Teo Otsoko played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Vladimiros Sismanidis in the 84th minute of play. In the 86th minute, Vassilis Batzis left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Αστέρας fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-4. 90 minutes into the match, Αστέρας's goal looked a bit too open when Valery Grau came free, but Iraklis Vazakos reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After some careless play in the Αστέρας defense, Valery Grau kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Iraklis Vazakos. The Αστέρας fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Iraklis Vazakos should have stopped the shot. An unexpectedly hard shot by Eugenios Iordanis in the 94th minute of play forced Internationale's goalkeeper Teo Otsoko to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Valery Grau in the 95th minute of play forced Αστέρας's goalkeeper Iraklis Vazakos to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Vladimiros Sismanidis sent away a hard shot on goal in the 96th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When the match was over Αστέρας could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Internationale throughout the match.