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A great final from two big teams took place at the municipal stadium. Katastari found themselves on a moderate day, squandering opportunities at the start of the match. Then they became loquacious, they were anxious, but found the way at 49′ to score the only goal that decided the final, by Raphael Pettas with a personal effort and a flawless finish, will tip the balance in favour of the “oranges”, who won the 4th cup in their history.
The players of APS Zakynthos, more than, honoured their jersey. The typical guests were passionate, running and gave 100% of their potential in the 94 minutes of the match. They lost opportunities mainly in the second half but they did not have a clear mind in the final. However, their effort was applauded from both their opponants and from the grandstand.
Excellent organization by EPS Zakynthos who did very well in this sector. Best player of the final emerged Raphael Pettas and Thanasis Drakopoulos the best goalkeeper, both players from Katastari.
Finals are for big teams and big teams are the ones that really deserve the applause. The 32nd final passed into history and history “wrote” that Katastari was the one to raise the trophy, in the air of the municipal stadium in the light of the floodlights at 20.30 on Wednesday 27/3 of 2019. It is the 4th cup that the Alykes team have conquered. Opposite was Zakynthos. Yes, APS Zakynthos, with a ‘heavy’ jersey and huge history.
And yes, the ‘blue-yellows’ were the ones who honoured the jersey, with their thrilling appearance, showing mental reserves and playing as befits the history of this great, but also suffering in the last years, club. The favourite was Katastari. A team with a stunning presence in the 3rd national division and the underdog was APS Zakynthos. This was apparent from the first minutes of the confrontation.
The ‘oranges’ took over the initiative of moves and the ‘blue-yellows’ with clear support roles in the match. At 5′ the home team came very close to a goal when Kardaris will take advantage of a mistake in midfield, will reach outside the area, will centre on the 2nd post, where Kapsaskis will make the centre, will find Mezini who will shoot, completely alone, with the ball ‘shaving’ the 2nd post of Diamantis, who was left standing.
Katastari pressured APS Zakynthos. The players of Panagiotis Goussetis (he sat on the bench) tried to ‘clean up’ early, but in essence, they were loquacious and lazy in their game. Up to 20′, the match was a game of ‘cat and mouse’. The hosts had possession but could not reach the area of Diamantis. One shot of Pettas at 17′, was the only threat of Katasari that was neutralized by Diamantis.
From 22′ onwards, the game gained momentum with APS Zakynthos slowly coming out of its ‘shell’ and showing a willingness to balance the game. At 26′, Katastari was very close to opening the score when Mezini played one-two with Kardaris, the latter will send him the ball, the striker of Katastari will find himself face to face with Diamantis, but he will make a mistake in control, with the experienced goalkeeper blocking the ball.
A minute later came the first good moment for APS when Sourbis will send the ball to young Tsoukalas, he will control the ball in the area and then shoot, with Drakopoulos blocking firmly. The blue-yellows, as time passed, took measures on the pitch, indicating that they can make it against the favourites. At 29′ Sourbis will be at the second post, will catch the header under pressure, but the ball will pass next to the post, with Drakopoulos controling the path of the ball.
At 31′ Katastari missed a great opportunity to score when Kardaris from the left will send the ball to Kourellas, the latter will make the cross to second post, there will be Kapsaskis, who with a header will send the ball to the penalty spot and Mezini with a spectacular back-scissor will send it next to Diamantis post. A phase that was applauded from the grandstand. From 33′ onwards the game was unpredictable, with APS Zakynthos now staring the opponent in the eye, without fear.
At 34′ Yasin executed a foul, towards the area of Katastari, there Psaris although he was found in the path of the ball, he failed to send it in the net. In the last 10 minutes of the first half the game became a ‘rodeo’, with both teams fighting on equal terms. At 42′ the blue-yellows were a breath away from opening the score, when a foul from Sourbis Sotiropoulos sent an unstable ball to shave past his teams post and corner … the corner passed unexploited. So with this 0-0 the two teams went to the locker room.
No sooner had the second half started, the hosts were lucky enough to score a goal and make it difficult for APS Zakynthos with Raphael Pettas. The former ace of the APS Zakynthos will score against his old team. Kapsaskis with a lobby ball will find Pettas, will go up front to the area of Zakynthos, he avoids defence and with a powerful left shot will send the ball into the left corner of Diamantis, despite his attempt fate could not be averted, making 1-0 for the home team. It is worth stressing that the young leader of Katastari did not celebrate the goal scored, respecting the team that he wore the jersey for, for three years.
With this goal the whole team of Katastari were elevated, they wanted to get a second goal and finish the match. But the players of Katastari were loquacious and without any substance, making continuous mistakes under the pressure of the players of APS Zakynthos, that were literally ‘eating iron’. So Katastari could not make it 2-0 and finish the match, so from 60′ onwards the blue-yellows started again to ‘flirt’ with a goal.
At 66′ a great opportunity for Zakynthos to equalize the match was lost when Yasin will execute a low corner kick, the ball will end at the penalty shootout, as it will not find a player of the APS and Drakopoulos will fend it off. Then a shot of Tsoukalas will go out. At 72′ Mezini with a beautiful vertical will find Kapsaskis, the last from a difficult angle will make the shot, with the ball passing over the right crossbar of Diamantis and at 73′ the guests were unable, once again, to find the net.
Mallisovas was found unmarked on the left, will attempt the cross, in the path of the ball will be Psaris who will jump between the two stoppers, will take the header, with the ball passing by the left post of Drakopoulos, who seemed to be in control of the phase. From 80′ onwards APS Zakynthos pushed Katastari, who were forced, de facto, to preserve the precious goal that Pettas had achieved, but the ‘oranges’ could not keep the ball, giving the impression that they had anxiety.
At 88′ Katastari was unable to make it 2-0 when Musai will be found in counterattack, will send with a wonderful vertical to Korfiati, the latter passes to an unmarked Kapsaskis but he delayed, characteristically, and combined with Diamantis’ quick exit, his shot will be blocked by the goalkeeper of APS Zakynthos. In the remaining minutes nothing will change so Katastari, with the one goal by Pettas at 49′, will conquer the EPS Zakynthos cup for the 2018-2019 season.
REFEREE: Antonis Bozikis, ASSISTED: Thomas Trombukis, Giorgos Bastas. 4th: Dimitris Kostakis.
KATASTARI (Panagiotis Goussetis): Drakopoulos, Tiliopoulos (69′ Maroudas), Kourellas, Karvounis, Sotiropoulos, Mousai (93′ Drosos), Kapsaskis, Petta, Mezini (81′ Korfiatis), Kardaris, Panagopoulos.
Bench: Drosos, Marinos, Korfiatis, Tamaresis, Maroudas M., Brilakis, Skourtai.
APS ZAKYNTHOS 1961 (Stathis Karamalikis): Diamantis, Marinos Sp., Gina, Yassin, Biazis, Sourbis, Tsoukalas (77′ Dassis), Mallissovas, Bajio (60′ Tzanari), Psaris, Fesui.
Bench: Tzanari, Triantafyllides, Maropoulos, Marinos A., Kouroumalos, Dassis.
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