National cup

National stadium
Spectators: 10309 (Terracing: 7732, Seating: 2371, VIP seats: 206) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Alexander North started the match with the kick off. Andrew Colt showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Vaios Georgenes in the 4th minute of the match. Through an outstanding action, after 4 minutes, Andrew Colt successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. Cyprus's Akhilleus Roussos played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alexander North in the 11th minute of play. Akhilleus Roussos showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alexander North , who was totally free with the ball in the 13th minute. After some careless play in the Northern Ireland defense, Vaios Georgenes kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Andrew Colt . The Northern Ireland fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Andrew Colt should have stopped the shot. When the match had gone on for 22 minutes, Nikias Triantafillou put it in 2-0 from a short distance just to the right of Andrew Colt . In the 25th minute, Sam Elliott hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Alexander North struck a weak shot in the 32nd minute. Akhilleus Roussos didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Northern Ireland. When Sammy Farrell came up free with the goalie in the 34th minute, the Northern Ireland fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Sammy Farrell couldn't finish the play. If Sammy Farrell had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 36th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After some fancy dribbling in the 38th minute, Jo Hampton managed to get in a good position for a shot. Northern Ireland's supporters rose to their feet, but Jo Hampton was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Akhilleus Roussos breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Alexander North recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 39th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Nikias Triantafillous short, quick shot in the 43rdth minute got Andrew Colt to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Akhilleus Roussos came out of the goal in the 44th minute to try and stop a shot by Northern Ireland's Alexander North . But to his dismay, Alexander North quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-1. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-1 at half-time.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Vaios Georgenes stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. 51 minutes into the match, Northern Ireland's goal looked a bit too open when Nikias Triantafillou came free, but Andrew Colt reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 51 minutes into the match, Nikias Triantafillou notched a goal, 3-1, to the right of Northern Ireland's Andrew Colt . Andrew Colt was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Sammy Farrell hit a great freekick 53 minutes into the match. Nikias Triantafillou's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Andrew Colt read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 54th minute of play. Nikias Triantafillou received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 56th minute. Andrew Colt tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Cyprus's Akhilleus Roussos proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 65th minute of the match, managed to save Cyprus from getting a goal against them. In the 66th match minute, Cyprus was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Teukros Pappayiorgas to maneuver through the defense. After a rather tough play, Cyprus's Teukros Pappayiorgas got a free kick in the 67th minute. After having played for 69 minutes, Alexander North managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Northern Ireland's supporters crossed their fingers, but Alexander North was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 74 minutes into the match, Northern Ireland's goal looked a bit too open when Nikias Triantafillou came free, but Andrew Colt reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Sammy Farrell sent away a hard shot on goal in the 78th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience was convinced that Stathis Patsatzis's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Andrew Colt was relentless in the 82nd minute of the game. In the 82ndth minute of the game Stathis Patsatzis who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Northern Ireland's Andrew Colt was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. A collision led to Northern Ireland getting a freekick after 83 minutes play. Gary Wedlock hit a great ball. If Stathis Patsatzis had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 88th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 91 minutes into the game, Nikias Triantafillou cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 4-1. Andrew Colt was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Many of Northern Ireland's supporters were seen to leave the ground early as it became clear their team was going to lose. Northern Ireland may have spent more time on the ball, but Cyprus were more willing to take their chances and they walked away with the win.