National cup

National stadium
Spectators: 1028 (Terracing: 772, Seating: 236, VIP seats: 20) Zinon Chatziioannou's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Aleksandr Ivannikov read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 2nd minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Vladimir Moskvin in the 4th minute of play forced Greece's goalkeeper Periklis Pipinakis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When the match clock showed 6 minutes, the score became 0-1 when Zinon Chatziioannou sped through Russia's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Aleksandr Ivannikov. Greece's Michalis Giannatos managed to work through Russia's defense and was going for an easy goal, but he hit the shot with his toe and the ball flew outside the goal. Michalis Giannatos dejectedly held out his arms as if to ask why the ball hadn't gone in. A collision led to Greece getting a freekick after 12 minutes play. Pantelis Christopoulos hit a great ball. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Zinon Chatziioannou in the 14th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Aleksandr Ivannikov saved Russia from getting behind. If Zinon Chatziioannou had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 22nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Russia's Aleksandr Ivannikov played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Zinon Chatziioannou in the 22nd minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in Greece's zone, Vladimir Moskvin stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Periklis Pipinakis came out of the goal and Vladimir Moskvin tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Aleksandr Ivannikov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Michalis Giannatos in the 25th minute of the match. In the 27thth minute of the game Michalis Giannatos who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Russia's Aleksandr Ivannikov was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. After some careless play in the Russia defense, Zinon Chatziioannou kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Aleksandr Ivannikov. The Russia fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Aleksandr Ivannikov should have stopped the shot. In the 37th minute Zinon Chatziioannou shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Aleksandr Ivannikov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 39th minute Josep Guardiola shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Periklis Pipinakis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Zinon Chatziioannou in the 41st minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Aleksandr Ivannikov prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Aleksandr Ivannikov showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Zinon Chatziioannou, who was totally free with the ball in the 42nd minute. After 44 minutes of play, Russia's Vladimir Moskvin made it 1-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Periklis Pipinakis was left in no man's land by his defense there! After the first half Greece were leading 1-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The wind increased when Michalis Giannatos made the kick off in the second half. After 50 minutes of play, Greece's Zinon Chatziioannou made it 1-3 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Aleksandr Ivannikov was left in no man's land by his defense there! In the 54th minute, Zinon Chatziioannou made a precise shot to the right of Aleksandr Ivannikov. Russia's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-4. 56 minutes into the match, Russia's goalkeeper Aleksandr Ivannikov had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Zinon Chatziioannou. Zinon Chatziioannou struck a weak shot in the 60th minute. Aleksandr Ivannikov didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Greece. Greece made a substitution. Aggelos Troglis replaced Nikos Pourliotopoulos. Yaroslav Ischenko received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 64th minute. Periklis Pipinakis tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Aleksandr Ivannikov took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Erling Lewandowski, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Erling Lewandowski blasted a shot towards the goal in the 69th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Aleksandr Ivannikov having to make a save. Aleksandr Ivannikov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Erling Lewandowski in the 69th minute of the match. Aleksandr Ivannikov stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Erling Lewandowski's shot from short distance in the 71st minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Josep Guardiola in the 73rd minute of play forced Greece's goalkeeper Periklis Pipinakis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Aleksandr Ivannikov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Erling Lewandowski in the 75th minute of the match. 77 minutes had been played when some careless play by Russia's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Panos Vakaloglou was slow to take the kick. During this time Greece's players had a chance to rest. 79 minutes into the match, Russia's goal looked a bit too open when Erling Lewandowski came free, but Aleksandr Ivannikov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A collision led to Greece getting a freekick after 80 minutes play. Erling Lewandowski hit a great ball. In the 81st match minute, Greece was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Erling Lewandowski to maneuver through the defense. In the 83rd minute, Erling Lewandowski reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Aleksandr Ivannikov. The goal made the score 1-5. When the match had gone on for 87 minutes, Erling Lewandowski put it in 1-6 from a short distance just to the right of Aleksandr Ivannikov. Greece's Periklis Pipinakis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Vladimir Moskvin in the 92nd minute of play. Thanks to some nice moves Michalis Giannatos could shoot a difficult shot in the 93rd minute, which Aleksandr Ivannikov however easily saved by the left post. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Erling Lewandowski in the 94th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Aleksandr Ivannikov saved Russia from getting behind. The Greece supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Greece would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.