National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10301 (Terracing: 7726, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Alpheios Polymenakou started the match with the kick off. Lefteris Adamou took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Atso Kärkkäinen, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Lefteris Adamou stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Maria Magdalena's shot from short distance in the 6th minute. In the 7thth minute of the game Stathis Patsatzis who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Finland's Harri Reimari was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. After 10 minutes of play, Cyprus's Oinomoas Plevritis made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Harri Reimari was left in no man's land by his defense there! Finland's Harri Reimari played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alpheios Polymenakou in the 12th minute of play. 12 minutes into the match, Alpheios Polymenakou notched a goal, 0-2, to the right of Finland's Harri Reimari. Harri Reimari was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Lefteris Adamou made a fantastic save in the 15th minute, when Pane Minuva sent off a good shot on target. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Stathis Patsatzis in the 17th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Harri Reimari saved Finland from getting behind. Finland's Harri Reimari played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Stathis Patsatzis in the 18th minute of play. 20 minutes into the game, Cyprus's Alpheios Polymenakou nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Harri Reimari made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-3. After some fancy dribbling in the 23rd minute, Alpheios Polymenakou managed to get in a good position for a shot. Cyprus's supporters rose to their feet, but Alpheios Polymenakou was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Harri Reimari breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. When Cyprus's Stathis Patsatzis in the 24th minute got a chance for a shot 24th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Finland's goalie prevented a goal. Lefteris Adamou took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Atso Kärkkäinen, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 27 minutes had been played when some careless play by Cyprus's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Vesa Uhlbäck was slow to take the kick. During this time Finland's players had a chance to rest. Harri Reimari showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alpheios Polymenakou in the 30th minute of the match. After 40 minutes Finland's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Charis Kolovos who took care of the corner kick. 42 minutes into the match, Finland's goal looked a bit too open when Alpheios Polymenakou came free, but Harri Reimari reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a rather tough play, Finland's Joni Kulonen got a free kick in the 46th minute. Harri Reimari made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Stathis Patsatzis in the 47th minute of play. After the first half Cyprus were leading 0-3. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Maria Magdalena to make the kick off. In the 50th minute, Stathis Patsatzis 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. 52 minutes into the match, Cyprus's goal looked a bit too open when Pane Minuva came free, but Lefteris Adamou reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 55 minutes into the match, Cyprus's goal looked a bit too open when Maria Magdalena came free, but Lefteris Adamou reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Pane Minuva had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 62nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Finland's Harri Reimari played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alpheios Polymenakou in the 63rd minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Pane Minuva in the 68th minute of play forced Cyprus's goalkeeper Lefteris Adamou to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 69th minute, Pane Minuva ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Lefteris Adamou was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-3. Cyprus's Alkyoneus Antipas was substituted for Likymnios Dimakakos. Cyprus made a substitution. Nikias Triantafillou replaced Stathis Patsatzis. Lefteris Adamou showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Maria Magdalena, who was totally free with the ball in the 73rd minute. The supporters of Finland booed when Cyprus was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 74 match minutes in a wonderful position. Lykaon Papadakos didn't get a good kick on the ball. 79 minutes had been played when some careless play by Finland's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Poias Rorris was slow to take the kick. During this time Cyprus's players had a chance to rest. The corner ended in Lykaon Papadakos almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Finland's Harri Reimari did a great save. With a little luck, Finland's Harri Reimari got control of the ball when Nikias Triantafillou tried to sneak it across the goal line. Cyprus's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Poias Rorris in the 86th minute. The corner led Cyprus's Poias Rorris to fire away a dangerous shot which Harri Reimari despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. In the 89th minute Maria Magdalena shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Lefteris Adamou saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nikias Triantafillou in the 90th minute of play forced Finland's goalkeeper Harri Reimari to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. A collision led to Cyprus getting a freekick after 91 minutes play. Oinomoas Plevritis hit a great ball. After a defensive mix-up in Cyprus's zone, Atso Kärkkäinen stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Lefteris Adamou came out of the goal and Atso Kärkkäinen tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 95th minute Alpheios Polymenakou shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Harri Reimari saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line.