Cyprus Vs Azerbaijan Ratings and Match Report

Cyprus Vs Azerbaijan Ratings and Match Report 

By Steve Kountourou


Cyprus and Azerbaijan both needed to bounce back from their defeats to Montenegro and Luxenburg respectively. 


The Cypriots made a couple of changes with Valentinos Seilis and Pieros Sotiriou starting over Christos Wheeler at left back and Marios Elia at striker. It was the away side that started the stronger, with Cyprus constantly being caught on the counter attack, struggling to create chances and Azerbaijan dominating in possession and coming close early on. 


They came close in the first 15 minutes with a thundering shot well saved by Kyriakides. Both sides had penalty calls waved away by the ref in the space of 5 minutes and the match continued. Cyprus in this match really struggled to find their rhythm in the first half and could not string two passes together. 


Cyprus had their first real chance of the match with Sotiriou’s header straight at the keeper. It was the away side that would inevitably score first as Azerbaijan countered from their Cyprus failed to get the ball out of the box and it was teed up for them to slot it home in the 28th minute, putting the Kypreai 1-0 down. 


Cyprus started to see more of the ball but the passing was still sub par. Christofi came so close to equalising in the 37th minute as he danced past his defender and took the shot well only to see it cannon off the post, with Sotiriou unable to take a shot from the rebound. 


Azerbaijan again came close at the end of the first half, as a header just fizzled wide past the post. As the second half began it was Cyprus who started brighter on the attack. 


Azerbaijan however were content to sit back and invite pressure from the home side and by the hour mark Welam made a double substitution, bringing on Kyriakou and Loizou for Kousoulos and Christofi respectively. Loizou was brought down in the box after he was tackled off the ball but the referee waved away the Cypriot calls for a penalty, which it ultimately was not. 


As the game neared its conclusion the away side really started to shut up shop and Cyprus attempts to break their opponent down became even harder. With four minutes to go you could see Cyprus desperation on the ball as Loizou played an excellent ball into the box only for a defender to send it out again despite the best efforts of Sotiriou to reach it. 


It was too little too late once again for Cyprus as they slumped to a disappointing defeat at the hands of a side that they probably should have beaten on paper and at least sneak a draw out of.

 

GK Charalambos Kyriakides 7/10

Started the game under pressure, had to be wary of a number of attacking threats from the opponents and made a great save in the first 15 minutes as well as the beginning of the second half. Was not a fault for the goal as he was let down by his team failing to clear the ball and I felt he played ok under the circumstances.


RB Charalambos Kyriakou 6/10

Hardly noticed he was on the pitch in the first half although he did get forward more than Seilis did in though.


CB Antreas Karo 5.5/10

Had a poor first half, was constantly caught unawares by the opposing sides attack and struggled to win the ball back in his own half. Did not really have much to do in the second half.


CB Konstantinos Laifis 6/10

Did not seem as comfortable in the last game and it showed with a real lack of communication between him and Karo at the back. Much like his partner at the back he did not have much to do in the second half but helped win the ball back a bit more to start counter attacks. 


LB Valentinos Sielis 5.5/10

Was not as dynamic as Wheeler was in the previous game and did not give that player Cyprus needed to gain ground and run at their opponent on the counter.


CDM Ioannis Kousoulos 5/10

Did not cover his defence well at all, looked shaky on the ball when Cyprus had possession and kept losing the ball in his own half. He was subbed off towards the hour mark for Chambos Kyriakou.


CM Grigoris Kastanos 6/10

Was nowhere near as prolific in creating chances and passing the ball around in the first half and seemed like he was a passenger in the side. Improved a little bit before half time but was still sluggish like the rest of his team. Was taken off in the 77th minute for Matija Špoljarić.


CM Marinos Tzionis 6/10

Was rather anonymous in the first half himself although he did start to improve as the game went on and delivered a couple of promising crosses into the box.


LM Demitris Christofi 6.5/10

So unlucky not to score in the 37th minute as his well taken shot hit the post and bounced back to Sotiriou who could not control the follow up. He was subbed out for Louziou before the hour mark.


RM Ioannis Pittas 6.5/10

Kept fighting for the ball when given the chance but he was mostly anonymous for me in the first half.


ST Pieros Sotiriou 5/10

I was happy to see him start, but he was kept fairly quiet in the first half other than a header that was easily saved and a rebound by Christofi bouncing into his path only for him to miss control it.


Substitutes 

Chambos Kyriakou 5.5/10

Started his time on the pitch just as poorly as the man he replaced, losing the ball in key areas through lackluster passing.


Liozos Loizou 7/10

I will give credit to the young winger, he at least tried something different once he was on the pitch and gave Cyprus a bit more unpredictability on the left. Did have a penalty shout waved away by the ref in the last 20 minutes too. Had another created chance well crossed into the box and looked lively towards the end of the game


Matija Špoljarić 6/10

Came on late in the game for Kastanos. Seemed more precises in his passing then his teammates and maybe should have started to give Cyprus a player to link up better 


Manager 


Johan Welam 5/10

Don't really know why he changed the players that he did from the previous game, other then Sotiriou and while I think he made the right call to make subs at the time that he did, taking off Christofi was a mistake on his part as he was one of the only encouraging parts of Cyprus going forward and although Loizou was a good addition I think he got this game plan rather wrong tonight.


Hellas Football 


Follow @stevekountourou

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Football players who could’ve played for the Greek national team but didn’t

Image
Football players who could’ve played for the Greek national team but didn’t By Stephen Kountourou As Ethniki fans, we appreciate those who choose to represent Greece over another nation. It may come from tribalism, national pride, and a close connection with Greek culture. If a football player decides to play for Greece, they also represent us.  It's why supporters were thrilled at the news that Odysseus Vlachodimos, who was born in Germany, was convinced to be the starting goalkeeper for the last decade.  Why the late George Baldock’s passing wrenched at the hearts of every Greek who saw him line up in blue and white. Or most recently, after months of anticipation, Konstantinos Karetsas chose Greece over Belgium, despite being one of the highest-rated young talents in Europe right now, and lit up Hampden Park in our 0-3 victory over Scotland. However, some players do the opposite, for one reason or another, choose to play for a different national team despite having the optio...
Read more

Top 10 Chants in Greek Football

Image
Top 10 Chants in Greek Football By Nick Tsambouniaris, Greek ultras are known around the world for their passionate support. Atmospheres at games are electric to say the least as fans act as the 12 th man for their team. Here are my top 10 chants in Greek football with a hyperlink to the YouTube video of them being belted out in full glory. 10. AEK – RE BIN LADEN This cheeky party starter aimed at Olympiakos from AEK’s Original 21 makes it as number 10. As you can see in the below link, every single fan is jumping and singing along with purpose, making for a great atmosphere. 10. AEK – RE BIN LADEN 9. PAOK – IRTHAME SKASTOI APO TIN KLINIKI Gate 4 of PAOK are notoriously known for creating an intimidating atmosphere wherever they go. This particular chant gets extra points for its climax ending when the fans rise from the ground as one jumping all over the place. The chant itself is also funny and sums up the passion of Greek football fans in general as it says they...
Read more

The new generation of talented Greek footballers

Image
The new generation of talented Greek footballers By Stephen Kountourou Opportunity, experience and faith. These are just some ingredients in progressing youth players to the senior level. Some leagues are great at producing, promoting and developing academy prospects for their future football careers.  Of the big five leagues, La Liga, Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga have been lorded as the best for producing young domestic talent. La Masia is the biggest example for Spain, PSG, who in more recent times has finally attempted to take advantage of their melting pot of young talent in Pairs and Germany with Borussia Dortmund, who not only produce youth from their academy but are excellent at identifying players from abroad.  Other Leagues like the Dutch Eredivisie and the Belgian Pro League have also been great gateway leagues for their youth and players from elsewhere, to hone their skills in exciting attacking competitions before attempting to take the next big step to the big leagu...
Read more