National Stadium
Spectators: 10305 (Terracing: 7729,
Seating: 2370, VIP seats: 206) Xanthos Alatza started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. When the match had been going on for 5 minutes, U21 Cyprus's Kroios Nikolakopoulos got an opportunity to shoot a penalty. He stayed cool and waited for the goalkeeper to move, before he confidently shot the ball into the goal, to the left of Caleb Esparza. Guy Tinsley struck a weak shot in the 8th minute. Eumaios Economides didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for U21 United States. 11 minutes into the match, U21 Cyprus's goal looked a bit too open when Guy Tinsley came free, but Eumaios Economides reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Nontas Stagias's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Caleb Esparza firmly grabbed it by the left post. The corner led to U21 Cyprus's Dimitris Agelakos getting away a dangerous shot that went just outside the goal. With a little luck, U21 United States's Caleb Esparza got control of the ball when Kroios Nikolakopoulos tried to sneak it across the goal line. A collision led to U21 Cyprus getting a freekick after 20 minutes play. Dihnekis Vakros hit a great ball. After 21 played minutes, U21 United States's Charlie Deaton shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Eumaios Economides 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 U21 United States reached it. Caleb Esparza took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Xanthos Alatza, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. A collision led to U21 United States getting a freekick after 26 minutes play. Elberg Gota hit a great ball. With a little luck, U21 United States's Caleb Esparza got control of the ball when Aipytos Karkampasis tried to sneak it across the goal line. Caleb Esparza stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Xanthos Alatza's shot from short distance in the 29th minute. Eumaios Economides showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Guy Tinsley, who was totally free with the ball in the 30th minute. When Santo Storr got free in front of the goal in the 32nd minute he wasn't very focused and chipped the ball just over the goal. Eumaios Economides was delighted since he was out of position and the ball would have got in if it had gone under the crossbar. When Mel Sargent fell near the penalty area in the 34th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored U21 United States's protests and gave Mel Sargent a yellow card for diving instead. A collision led to U21 United States getting a freekick after 34 minutes play. Mel Sargent hit a great ball. In the 36th minute of the match, Xanthos Alatza tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Caleb Esparza saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. In the 38th minute, Guy Tinsley left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The U21 United States fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. In the 40th minute, Santo Storr hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 41 minutes into the match, Xanthos Alatza dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Caleb Esparza, 2-1. In the 45th minute Santo Storr shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Eumaios Economides saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Eumaios Economides took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Guy Tinsley, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-1 at half-time.
The wind increased when Santo Storr made the kick off in the second half. 51 minutes into the match, U21 Cyprus's goal looked a bit too open when Santo Storr came free, but Eumaios Economides reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Eumaios Economides didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Santo Storr went, in the 51st minute, to the upper right corner, 2-2 was the resulting score. Eumaios Economides made an important save on a dangerous shot by Mel Sargent in the 56th minute. In the 57th minute of the match U21 United States got a corner. U21 Cyprus's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Charlie Deaton ran over to the corner to take the kick. The corner led U21 United States's Olin Little to fire away a dangerous shot which Eumaios Economides despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. 59 minutes into the match, U21 Cyprus's goal looked a bit too open when Santo Storr came free, but Eumaios Economides reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 62nd minute, Xanthos Alatza got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Caleb Esparza showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Aipytos Karkampasis in the 67th minute of the match. U21 Cyprus's Aipytos Karkampasis was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Caleb Esparza in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. When U21 Cyprus's Xanthos Alatza in the 71st minute got a chance for a shot 71st didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 United States's goalie prevented a goal. 76 minutes into the game, U21 Cyprus's Kroios Nikolakopoulos nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Caleb Esparza made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 3-2. If Mel Sargent had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 79th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 80 played minutes U21 United States got a freekick which was hit by Rafael Hollis. Kroios Nikolakopoulos recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 81st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 83 minutes into the match, U21 Cyprus's goal looked a bit too open when Santo Storr came free, but Eumaios Economides reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Aipytos Karkampasis in the 85th minute of play forced U21 United States's goalkeeper Caleb Esparza to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 87 minutes into the match, U21 United States's Santo Storr sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Eumaios Economides narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 90th match minute, U21 United States was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Rafael Hollis to maneuver through the defense. In the 92nd minute of the match U21 Cyprus got a corner. U21 United States's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Kroios Nikolakopoulos ran over to the corner to take the kick. A well-hit corner resulted in Nontas Stagias heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. Eumaios Economides took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Santo Storr, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. For all the effort they put into the match, the U21 United States players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for U21 Cyprus.
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