U18 League

Qemal Stafa
Spectators: 154 (Terracing: 116, Seating: 35, VIP seats: 3) O.T.E's Ntinos Kousas 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. After 14 minutes of play, K.F TIRANA's Vionis Spahiu made it 1-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Efthimis Kazantzatos was left in no man's land by his defense there! In the 18th minute, Kimet Shllaku hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Louis Mavrostomos might have been able to make a better finish in the 21st minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Erzen Sadikllari. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Louis Mavrostomos ran back to his position shaking his head. O.T.E's Efthimis Kazantzatos proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 23rd minute of the match, managed to save O.T.E from getting a goal against them. Jorald Tasili kicked well hit freekick during the 24th minute of the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Vionis Spahiu got free with Efthimis Kazantzatos in the 26th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Ntinos Kousas in the 27th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Erzen Sadikllari prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Efthimis Kazantzatos showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jashar Pogradecari, who was totally free with the ball in the 30th minute. Efthimis Kazantzatos didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Vionis Spahiu went, in the 33rd minute, to the upper right corner, 2-0 was the resulting score. When Ermioni Divjaka fell near the penalty area in the 36th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored K.F TIRANA's protests and gave Ermioni Divjaka a yellow card for diving instead. In the 36th minute, one of K.F TIRANA:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for K.F TIRANA. If Ntinos Kousas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 39th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 41stth minute of the game Ntinos Kousas who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but K.F TIRANA's Erzen Sadikllari was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. 43 minutes into the match, O.T.E's goalkeeper Efthimis Kazantzatos had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Vionis Spahiu. Vionis Spahiu's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Efthimis Kazantzatos firmly grabbed it by the left post. Vionis Spahiu received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 47th minute. Efthimis Kazantzatos tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Jashar Pogradecari was the one to do the kick off. Erzen Sadikllari made an important save on a dangerous shot by Ntinos Kousas in the 52nd minute. The supporters of K.F TIRANA booed when O.T.E was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 56 match minutes in a wonderful position. Michalis Kostetsos didn't get a good kick on the ball. After 57 minutes, Michalis Kostetsos mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the O.T.E and the K.F TIRANA players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 57th minute, Michalis Kostetsos hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After some careless play in the O.T.E defense, Jashar Pogradecari kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Efthimis Kazantzatos. The O.T.E fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Efthimis Kazantzatos should have stopped the shot. Efthimis Kazantzatos came out of the goal in the 63rd minute to try and stop a shot by K.F TIRANA's Vionis Spahiu. But to his dismay, Vionis Spahiu quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 4-0. Kozma Kurti kicked well hit freekick during the 66th minute of the match. Erzen Sadikllari made an important save on a dangerous shot by Ntinos Kousas in the 71st minute. Ntinos Kousas took the ball and in the 73 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Erzen Sadikllari. Erzen Sadikllari dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 4-1. A hard shot by Thomas Matsikidis from long distance, 78 minutes into the match, got Erzen Sadikllari's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. Erzen Sadikllari stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Ntinos Kousas's shot from short distance in the 80th minute. When O.T.E's Ntinos Kousas in the 89th minute got a chance for a shot 89th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye K.F TIRANA's goalie prevented a goal. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Vionis Spahiu in the 95th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Efthimis Kazantzatos saved O.T.E from getting behind. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The K.F TIRANA fans cheered their team off the field, for while O.T.E had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.