Official Cup

Stade J.SNELLA
Spectators: 174 (Terracing: 131, Seating: 40, VIP seats: 3) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Cyrille Melon kicked off to start the match. In the 3rd minute Abubakar Kamarád shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Didier Lafargue saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 5thth minute of the game Cyrille Melon who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C.'s Marios Sabanis was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. In the 6th minute of the match R.C. Marseille got a corner. ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C.'s goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Renan Bouzat ran over to the corner to take the kick. After 8 played minutes ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C. got a freekick which was hit by Simos Kozapalidis. The audience thought a goal was coming when Cyrille Melon got free with Marios Sabanis in the 16th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The supporters of R.C. Marseille booed when ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C. was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 20 match minutes in a wonderful position. Demis Krasopoulos didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 25th minute, Renan Bouzat hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. R.C. Marseille's Didier Lafargue played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Chu Zhen Xun in the 29th minute of play. In the 30th minute Chu Zhen Xun shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Didier Lafargue saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 32 played minutes, ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C.'s Chu Zhen Xun shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Didier Lafargue came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C. reached it. Joe Plantin took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 35th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Marios Sabanis. ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C.'s goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. In the 42nd minute, Aris Keskeridis hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Marios Sabanis took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cyrille Melon, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 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 Cyrille Melon in the 46th minute of play. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Chu Zhen Xun made a kick off. 51 minutes into the match, R.C. Marseille's goal looked a bit too open when Abubakar Kamarád came free, but Didier Lafargue reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 52 minutes into the match, ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C.'s goal looked a bit too open when Mihail Toader came free, but Marios Sabanis reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A hard shot 53 in the game by Abubakar Kamarád from a close distance when the talented Didier Lafargue managed to make a qualified save. R.C. Marseille's players were relieved. Demis Krasopoulos hit a great freekick 57 minutes into the match. Cyrille Melon sent away a hard shot on goal in the 58th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Abubakar Kamaráds short, quick shot in the 60thth minute got Didier Lafargue to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. When the match had gone on for 61 minutes, Abubakar Kamarád put it in 0-1 from a short distance just to the right of Didier Lafargue. With his leg Didier Lafargue managed to avoid a goal in the 65thth minute, when ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C.'s Abubakar Kamarád fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Marios Sabanis showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cyrille Melon in the 69th minute of the match. Marios Sabanis showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Mihail Toader in the 75th minute of the match. The audience was convinced that Chu Zhen Xun's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Didier Lafargue was relentless in the 78th minute of the game. In the last second Didier Lafargue throw himself and got hold of the ball when Chu Zhen Xun in the 78thth minute from his position got away a shot towards the right post. R.C. Marseille made a substitution. Djibril Mourot replaced Mihail Toader. In the 81st minute, Djibril Mourot hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Abubakar Kamarád could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 88th minute of the match, but Didier Lafargue made a huge save. After 89 minutes, Aris Keskeridis mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C. and the R.C. Marseille players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 89 played minutes ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C. got a freekick which was hit by Aris Keskeridis. Marios Sabanis took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cyrille Melon, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C.'s supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.