Effort was There, but Unfortunately, that was Not Enough.

Effort was There, but Unfortunately, that was Not Enough.

By Christian Leggas 

In their final match of this season's UEFA Nations League, Greece was unfortunately unable to secure the needed victory to obtain top spot and promotion to League B. With Slovenia holding them to a scoreless draw.

 

The first chance of the game occurred after three minutes, as Greek captain Anastasios Bakasetas' fierce-curling effort went narrowly wide of the post via a slight deflection. The shot certainly had Jan Oblak in the Slovenia goal worried.

 

Two minutes later, it was Dimitris Limnios' turn to test Jan Oblak. Limnios' shot, however, went straight into his chest of Oblak.

 

Greece was in the mood to score early. As eleven minutes ticked over, a Giorgos Giakoumakis header went just over the bar via a deflection after he was found beautifully by Kostas Tsimikas' cross from the left-hand side.

 

Just after twenty-six minutes, Slovenia had their first chance of the game, which fell to star-player Josip Iličić. Thankfully for Greece at the time, his shot was closer to the sky than the back of the net.

 

As half an hour approached, Kostas Fortounis had Jan Oblak beaten with a well-placed header, but thankfully for Slovenia, defender Miha Blažič was there to clear it off the line with a well-placed header of his own.

 

That Fortounis header was the final clear-cut chance of the half, as both teams went into the break at nil-nil.

 

The first chance of the second half went to Slovenia and Josip Iličić, who tried to lob Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos from a long way out. Despite Vlachodimos being slightly off his line, he was well aware of the danger-signs as he saved the shot comfortably.

 

Chances were at a minimum in the second half, until the sixty-fifth-minute mark, when Anastasios Bakasetas' strong shot on goal was tipped over the crossbar superbly by Jan Oblak's outstretched arm.

 

Dimitris Limnios then tried his luck again six minutes later, but he couldn't match his neat turn with an equally as good shot as it yet again went straight into the chest of Jan Oblak. This time via a deflection.

 

As seventy-seven minutes ticked over, Greece passed up what was arguably their best chance of the game, as some neat teamwork ended with the ball falling to Dimitris Kourbelis. Unfortunately for the home side, he dragged his side-footed and perhaps tame effort wide of the target.

 

Four minutes later, Kostas Fortounis had a great chance from a dead-ball situation, but yet again, and agonisingly so for the home side, the shot was narrowly off-target.

 

Two minutes later, some genius-acrobatics from substitute Vangelis Pavlidis were on show. Again though, as was so often the case throughout the game, the only obstacle in Greece's way was Jan Oblak, who got just enough on his save to tip Pavlidis' bicycle-kick-shot onto the crossbar. The same man had Greece's next effort shortly after with a close-range header, and that chance could only find Oblak's gloves once more.

 

Right on 90 minutes, Greece had a player sent off. When Pantelis Hatzidiakos was given his marching orders, for a cynical and desperate lunge on Slovenian Striker Andraž Šporar that was only going to result in one outcome. Josip Iličić's shot from the resulting free-kick went just over the crossbar.

 

Greece pressed and pressed and pressed for the remaining minutes of the match, but they couldn't break down the Slovenian brick-wall, as the game ended nil-nil.

 

Credit must go to all of the Slovenian players and their coach Matjaž Kek for their almost perfectly-executed gameplan. You couldn't possibly fault the effort of any Ethniki player in this game. It just was not their day.

Hellas Football 

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