Better Finishing is Mandatory for the Future

Better Finishing is Mandatory for the Future

 

By Christian Leggas 

It was a night of predominant frustration for the Ethniki, as they failed to secure the all-important three points against an arguably depleted Kosovo side.

Greece's first real chance came through Petros Mantalos after fifteen minutes after he got on the end of a cross from Dimitris Giannoulis. Unfortunately, his header could not dip beneath the bar.

Two minutes later, Greece got awarded an ideal chance to score, as Dimitris Limnios appeared to be dragged back, albeit very slightly inside the penalty area. The referee agreed and awarded the home side a penalty.

Unfortunately, though, captain of the night Anastasios Bakasetas was unable to convert, as he saw his powerful, yet too-central penalty-kick kept out by Kosovan keeper Arijanet Muric.

Shortly after the Bakasetas penalty miss, some neat teamwork from Petros Mantalos and Vangelis Pavlidis resulted in the latter unleashing a fierce shot. That could only ripple the side-netting.

More frustration occurred for Greece three minutes later, as a set-piece routine found the foot of Vangelis Pavlidis once again, who made no mistake with his finish this time. But, the goal didn't stand, as Pavlidis turned the ball in from an offside position.

Pavlidis' first-half-bad-luck didn't stop there. Three minutes after that disallowed goal, he got given a ball on a silver platter by Dimitris Limnios, but he could not direct his shot on target when at the very least, he should have forced a save out of Arijanet Muric.

Greece closed out the half with a few half-decent chances but could not find the net, as it remained nil-nil at the break. 

For all of the shots Greece had as well as possession in the final third, it was a half-time scoreline that probably should never have been as such.

The second half almost started in the worst possible fashion for the home side, as Kosovan attacker Lirim Kastrati nearly gave Kosovo the lead with a close-range shot from an acute angle. But Greek Goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos managed to get an ankle on it to force it away from goal, and what a vital save it was.

Seven minutes after that Kastrati chance, it seemed remarkable that Kosovo didn't take the lead. 

As the same man took advantage of a Stratos Svarnas slip initially, after seeing his initial cross crucially blocked by Georgios Tzavellas, the ball eventually fell to Kosovan defender Leart Paquarda, who's shot looked destined to find its way into the net.

But thanks to both a vital and slight touch from Odysseas Vlachodimos and a brilliant goal-line clearance from Pantelis Hatzidiakos, the score remained nil-nil. 

The whole Ethniki squad, coaches, and staff owe Tzavellas, Vlachodimos, and Hatzidiakos a nice meal after those sublime defensive acts.

Greece then saw their first efforts of the second half yet again not find the net, as efforts in quick succession from Dimitris Limnios and Zeca could only be blocked and put over the bar. A set-piece routine shortly after those two chances found Anastasios Bakasetas' foot, but again, no goal for him or Greece.

Twenty minutes out from the end of the game, it just didn't look like being Greece's night in a goalscoring sense when substitute Taxiarchis Fountas' half volley went wide of the target after some decent build-up play. Ultimately, it did not turn out to be Greece's night.

Following that Fountas opportunity, Greece had many more looks at attacking chances but could not turn those attacks into absolute clear-cut opportunities, which meant that the match finished scoreless. Credit must be given too to Dimitris Giannoulis in the final play of the game. 

As his lung-bursting run to thwart a very late Kosovo look-on-goal meant that Greece did at least obtain a point from this game, and in the process, also saved from potential late heartbreak.

Tonight was a case of the Ethniki failing to take advantage of any of the opportunities that they created. You could not say they did not try, but the ability to finish chances has to improve in the future. If not? They could very well pay a much heavier price for not capitalising on their goalscoring opportunities.

Hellas Football 

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