National cup

National Stadium
Spectators: 14377 (Terracing: 10000, Seating: 4027, VIP seats: 350) Learkhos Koulouris made the kick off and thus started the match. U21 Cyprus's attentive Likymnios Tekosis managed to snatch the ball when Ali Bougherra made a throw-in in the 2nd minute of the game. 7 minutes into the match, U21 Cyprus's goal looked a bit too open when Cheb Hamouda came free, but Palaimon Gomatos reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Palaimon Gomatos came out of the goal in the 8th minute to try and stop a shot by U21 MZ Country's Abdelmalek Saïd-Guerni. But to his dismay, Abdelmalek Saïd-Guerni quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. Abdelnasser Mohand made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Aris Farmakis in the 11th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Aris Farmakis in the 14th minute of play forced U21 MZ Country's goalkeeper Abdelnasser Mohand to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Learkhos Koulouris in the 15th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Abdelnasser Mohand saved U21 MZ Country from getting behind. Learkhos Koulouris scored 1-1 in the 19th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Abdelnasser Mohand, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Palaimon Gomatos showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cheb Hamouda in the 22nd minute of the match. Learkhos Koulouriss short, quick shot in the 23rdth minute got Abdelnasser Mohand to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. U21 Cyprus's Panos Tselios quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Ali Bougherra, made in the 25th minute of the game. When U21 Cyprus's Learkhos Koulouris in the 26th minute got a chance for a shot 26th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 MZ Country's goalie prevented a goal. After some careless play in the U21 Cyprus defense, Cheb Hamouda kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Palaimon Gomatos. The U21 Cyprus fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Palaimon Gomatos should have stopped the shot. The audience thought a goal was coming when Learkhos Koulouris got free with Abdelnasser Mohand in the 33rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 36th minute Abdelmalek Saïd-Guerni shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Palaimon Gomatos saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. U21 Cyprus's Ime Mavros was substituted for Aris Farmakis. U21 Cyprus's Anestis Protopsaltis was substituted for Learkhos Koulouris. A collision led to U21 Cyprus getting a freekick after 38 minutes play. Panos Tselios hit a great ball. 44 minutes into the game, Anestis Protopsaltis was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. U21 Cyprus's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave U21 MZ Country the free kick. After 44 played minutes U21 Cyprus got a freekick which was hit by Anestis Protopsaltis. Marios Theodorou charged in rather forcefully in the 46th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Marios Theodorou the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The supporters of U21 MZ Country booed when U21 Cyprus was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 47 match minutes in a wonderful position. Marios Theodorou didn't get a good kick on the ball. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 1-2 lead.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Cheb Hamouda to strike the kick off in the second half. When Ali Bougherra fell near the penalty area in the 50th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored U21 MZ Country's protests and gave Ali Bougherra a yellow card for diving instead. In the 50th minute, Ali Bougherra hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Anestis Protopsaltis struck a weak shot in the 51st minute. Abdelnasser Mohand didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for U21 Cyprus. Abdelnasser Mohand took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Anestis Protopsaltis, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. With 59 minutes on the clock, Telis Maneates commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. In the 58th minute, one of U21 Cyprus:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for U21 Cyprus. A collision led to U21 MZ Country getting a freekick after 64 minutes play. Rachid Iles hit a great ball. Abdelnasser Mohand made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Anestis Protopsaltis in the 67th minute of play. Vaggelis Vourlis received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 69th minute. Abdelnasser Mohand tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. U21 Cyprus's Palaimon Gomatos proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 74th minute of the match, managed to save U21 Cyprus from getting a goal against them. After some careless play in the U21 MZ Country defense, Anestis Protopsaltis kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Abdelnasser Mohand. The U21 MZ Country fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Abdelnasser Mohand should have stopped the shot. 80 minutes into the game, Juliusz Julia cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-4. Palaimon Gomatos was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 86th minute Glauke Panayiotopoulos shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Abdelnasser Mohand saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Palaimon Gomatos took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Abderaouf Sami Yachir, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The U21 MZ Country supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing U21 MZ Country would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.