League

Kokkinitsa
Spectators: 6789 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1789, VIP seats: 0) Ximpatzides FC's Theofilos Vrakozonis 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. Dimitris Karalis recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 7th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Theofilos Vrakozonis sent away a hard shot on goal in the 9th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 12th minute, Iason Tsartsalis fired away a killer shot towards the goal that, to the delight of Miltos Rigas, passed just outside the right post. The supporters of Kokkinitsa booed when Ximpatzides FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 13 match minutes in a wonderful position. Thodoris Moraitis didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 18th minute, Kokkinitsa's Fotis Pitsos seemed to kick out at an opponent. The referee saw this and, surprisingly, showed Fotis Pitsos the red card, dismissing him from the pitch. The coaching staff of Kokkinitsa protested bitterly, but the referee would have none of it, and Fotis Pitsos had no choice but to slowly walk off the pitch. Kokkinitsa's Kostas Giotos played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Theofilos Vrakozonis in the 24th minute of play. Dimitris Karalis was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 25th minute. Kokkinitsa's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. In the 34th minute, Timos Seremeglis hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Theagenis Kastanis had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 37th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Nikitas Bikas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 42nd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-1 lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Dimitris Karalis to make the kick off. Kostas Giotos stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Theofilos Vrakozonis's shot from short distance in the 54th minute. In the 60th minute, Timos Seremeglis hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 61st minute, Theofilos Vrakozonis 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. Kostas Giotos was a little too slow when Theofilos Vrakozonis got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 64th minute. The score was now 0-2. 69 minutes into the game, Nikitas Bikas cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-3. Kostas Giotos was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Miltos Rigas showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Timos Seremeglis, who was totally free with the ball in the 73rd minute. Kokkinitsa's Theagenis Kastanis got a good chance for a goal in the 75th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Dimitris Karalis struck a weak shot in the 77th minute. Miltos Rigas didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Kokkinitsa. 80 minutes into the match, Ximpatzides FC's Nikitas Bikas sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Kostas Giotos narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Pantelis Ntaikos's late challenge caught a Kokkinitsa's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Pantelis Ntaikos helped the player get up and apologised. Christos Bourekakos charged in rather forcefully in the 92nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Christos Bourekakos the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Christos Bourekakos kicked well hit freekick during the 92nd minute of the match. When the final whistle went the supporters of Ximpatzides FC were delighted that their team had defeated the much more dominant Kokkinitsa side.