The Bakasetas-Fortounis Show

The Bakasetas-Fortounis Show!

By Christian Leggas 

Greece was able to secure an all-important win in Chișinău to the tune of two goals to nil against Moldova. With those goals coming from joint-men-of-the-match in Kostas Fortounis and Anastasios Bakasetas

 

Ten minutes into the game, and the theme was quite evident. As Greece controlled most of the possession, looking for the right key to unlock the Moldova defence. The first chance did come ten minutes into the game, and it fell to Greek attacker Kostas Fortounis, but his shot found the arm of Moldovan goalkeeper Stanislav Namașco instead of the back of the net.

 

Four minutes later, Greek captain Anastasios Bakasetas dragged a side-footed effort wide of the target. Choosing to shoot was perhaps the wrong option, as Kostas Fortounis could have been played through into space to his right-hand-side perhaps quite easily.

 

Moldova had their first chance three minutes later, as Moldovan attacker Dan Spătaru cut inside nicely from the left flank to set himself up for a shot on the half-volley. But his effort went well wide, not even making Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos move a muscle.

 

Just when it looked like the first half was bound to be scoreless, there came a moment of undoubted quality in the thirty-second minute. Anastasios Bakasetas did well to win the ball initially for the visitors in midfield. And did well enough to find Kostas Fortounis, who then unleashed a powerful strike that directly found the top-left-hand corner to give Greece a one-goal advantage, and a well-deserved lead at that.

 

Things only got better for the Ethniki nine minutes later, as they doubled their advantage. This time Kostas Fortounis turned provider, as his well-weighted pass inside the box found captain Anastasios Bakasetas, who swept the shot home nicely, albeit with a bit of a scuffed effort. Again, Greece was very deserving of the goal.

 

It was nearly three-nil two minutes later, as an adventurous run from Greek left-back Kostas Tsimikas lead to him letting off a fierce shot that was well saved in the end by Stanislav Namașco. The Greek left-back may like his time again with that chance, as he potentially had a teammate or two to square the ball to who were perhaps in better positions to shoot.

 

That Tsimikas chance was the last attempt of the half, as Greece went into the break two goals up and sitting pretty.

 

Moldova had the opening chance of the second half, as the ball fell to Dan Spătaru on the edge of the area. But like his first-half effort, it didn't make Odysseus Vlachodimos move a muscle, as it went well wide of the goal.

 

Greece nearly made it three-nil seven minutes later. As the arguable man of the match, Kostas Fortounis was found nicely by Anastasios Bakasetas, Fortounis' deft attempted poke-shot was saved nicely by the outstretched leg of Stanislav Namașco to Greece's frustration. Moldova did have Namașco to thank for preventing the scoreline from getting any bigger throughout the night. A half-chance then fell to Bakasetas five minutes later, but he dragged his right-footed snap-shot well, well wide of the target.

 

There were not too many goalscoring opportunities to speak of after that Bakasetas chance. Until minute number eighty when Greece's captain played through substitute Giorgos Giakoumakis, who tried to go around Stanislav Namașco and then shoot but was unsuccessful as the Moldovan keeper made yet another good save.

 

The same bloke had another opportunity to score Greece's third goal right before the final whistle, after being played through superbly, this time by fellow-substitute Anastasios Chatzigiovannis. Though, Giakoumakis' dinked attempt failed to trouble Stanislav Namașco, who saved the shot comfortably.

 

The final whistle followed that Giakoumakis shot, as the match ended with a two-nil scoreline in Greece's favour.

 

Next up for the Ethniki is a winner-takes-all clash against current group leaders Slovenia, a win for Greece means not just promotion to League B for the next UEFA Nations League campaign but also a better shot at qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

 

Based on their performance tonight, there's no reason why Greece can't get the all-important three points in three days.

Hellas Football 

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