Futsal Planet

Cyprus vs Albania

OFFICIAL MATCH REPORT

by James Stringer from Tripoli

Cyprus and Albania played out an amazing game of two halves today as Albania came from behind to beat their slightly more illustrious opponents. It started with Papadopoulos Iakovos having a shot from way out that fizzed past the right hand post. Shortly after that Bllaca Fisnik showed some amazing ability taking on several Cypriot players before hammering a shot at the keeper. Mavroudis Kyriakos kept the ball in well on the left and went for a run, which ended with a shot that fizzed over the bar. Hackovia Spartak collected a clearance from Hackaj Bledar and smashed a shot against the post for Albania. Whilst at the other end Iakovou Christos fired wide and Bllaca Fisnik got booked for holding onto the speedy Manoli Manolis.
After a pretty even first half itwas Cyprus who have took the lead. Polyviou Kostas held up the ball well and left it on a plate for Chrysostomou Chrysostomos to hammer it home for his first goal of the match. Albania didn’t let Cyprus settle and immediately got up the other end where Dalipi Besian hand a double shot saved both times by Odisseos Odissea.

Cyprus increased their lead further when Polyviou Kostas gets the ball in the centre circle and looks to be brought down, he kept possession though and ran clear of the Albanians to score his first of the evening. Hackovia Spartak had another one on one saved by the onrushing Odisseos Odisseas whilst for Cyprus Mavroudis Kyriakos had a shot turned away by Hackaj Bledar.
Manoli Manolis was denied a goal by a great sliding challenge from Pacrami Alis and Mavroudis Kyriakos linked well with Chrysostomou Chrysostomos, who has his shot was saved well by the Albanian keeper. Hackovia Spartak continued to make a nuisance of himself and put a shot wide after going clean through on goal. Albania might have been ruing the goal scoring chances that they had missed when Manoli Manolis got hold of the ball and passed it to Odisseos Odisseas, he launched it up for Chrysostomou Chrysostomos to smash it into the back of the net and that was the final act of the very entertaining first half.

Albania got off to the perfect start after half time, Bllaca Fisnik had a shot that went just wide of the target before they pulled a goal back from a cross into the area that Memetaj Ermir converted to reduce the deficit by 1. After that the game opened up a lot and both sides had chances, Chrysostomou Chrysostomos almost got his hat trick after lofting the ball just wide of the far corner after Hackaj Bledar committed himself. Polyviou Kostas looked to be on a mission when he hammered a shot against the bar but it was Albania that scored the next goal as Hackovia Spartak finished under the keeper to reduce the deficit further.

Chrysostomou Chrysostomos looked in the mood and was unlucky not to score again when he shot just wide of the post. Albania then stunned Cyprus and equalized with 5 minutes left to play. Dalipi Besian got the ball and belted it into the far corner, we now had a game on our hands.

The goal affected Cyprus and Polyviou Kostas was booked for hauling down an Albanian near the half way line. The game was then frantic from end to end when Albania turned the whole game around on it’s head. Where had this team come from??? Memetaj Ermir fired the ball into the far corner and he ran to the jubilation of his bench, Cyprus looked shocked and in the dying seconds Polyviou Kostas took a shot that ended up just on the wrong side of the post. What a game of Futsal!!!

Most Valuable Player Hackovia Spartak said after the game “We are a young team, the second half went well, we are all great fighters and it was a real battle in the second half.”

Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com