Official Cup

KLEANTHIS VIKELIDIS
Spectators: 175 (Terracing: 132, Seating: 40, VIP seats: 3) ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C.'s Panos Diamantidis 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. 3 minutes into the game, ꜱᴀᴊʀᴀꜱ ꜰᴄ's Filipo Riazos nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Grigoris Smernos made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. Grigoris Smernos came out of the goal in the 5th minute to try and stop a shot by ꜱᴀᴊʀᴀꜱ ꜰᴄ's Sandalio Domingo. But to his dismay, Sandalio Domingo quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-2. After 10 minutes, Fraco Beite mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the ꜱᴀᴊʀᴀꜱ ꜰᴄ and the ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C. players grew even worse after the yellow card. After a rather tough play, ꜱᴀᴊʀᴀꜱ ꜰᴄ's Fraco Beite got a free kick in the 10th minute. A collision led to ꜱᴀᴊʀᴀꜱ ꜰᴄ getting a freekick after 16 minutes play. Intxixu Alzorbe hit a great ball. Sandalio Domingo hit a great freekick 18 minutes into the match. A collision led to ꜱᴀᴊʀᴀꜱ ꜰᴄ getting a freekick after 23 minutes play. Sandalio Domingo hit a great ball. After having played for 25 minutes, Kostas Ntounias managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C.'s supporters crossed their fingers, but Kostas Ntounias was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Filipo Riazos sent away a hard shot on goal in the 29th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Filipo Riazos in the 30th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Grigoris Smernos saved ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C. from getting behind. Filipo Riazos scored 0-4 in the 37th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Grigoris Smernos, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Giannis Merganiotis's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Benicio Carvajal read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 40th minute of play. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-4 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The wind increased when Filipo Riazos made the kick off in the second half. When ꜱᴀᴊʀᴀꜱ ꜰᴄ's Bizi Ruidiaz in the 51st minute got a chance for a shot 51st didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C.'s goalie prevented a goal. Grigoris Smernos made an important save on a dangerous shot by Filipo Riazos in the 53rd minute. Benicio Carvajal stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Panos Diamantidis's shot from short distance in the 59th minute. In the 64th minute, Giannis Merganiotis left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C. fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-4. 71 minutes into the match, ꜱᴀᴊʀᴀꜱ ꜰᴄ's goal looked a bit too open when Panos Diamantidis came free, but Benicio Carvajal reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 72nd minute Kostas Ntounias shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Benicio Carvajal saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Filipo Riazos charged in rather forcefully in the 83rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Filipo Riazos the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. When Bizi Ruidiaz fell near the penalty area in the 85th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored ꜱᴀᴊʀᴀꜱ ꜰᴄ's protests and gave Bizi Ruidiaz a yellow card for diving instead. In the 85th match minute, ꜱᴀᴊʀᴀꜱ ꜰᴄ was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Bizi Ruidiaz to maneuver through the defense. In the 88th minute of the match Christos Batiris shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Benicio Carvajal showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. Grigoris Smernos showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Filipo Riazos, who was totally free with the ball in the 90th minute. Although ARIS THESSALONIKI F.C. had been in control for most of the match, ꜱᴀᴊʀᴀꜱ ꜰᴄ still came away with the win.