Walsall striker Andreas Makris was named among the Cyprus substitutes as they took on Gibraltar in their latest 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualification Group H match, which was to take place at Estádio Algarve in Almancil, Portugal.
Gibraltar XI | Ibrahim; García, R.Casciaro, R.Chipolina, J.Chipolina, Olivero; Barnett, Hernández, Bardon, Walker; L.Casciaro
SUBS | K.Casciaro, Yome, Robba, Pons, Duarte, Pusey, Coombes, Guilling, Goldwin
SUBS | K.Casciaro, Yome, Robba, Pons, Duarte, Pusey, Coombes, Guilling, Goldwin
Cyprus XI | Georgallidis; Demetriou, Merkis, Laifis, Ioannou; Kyriakou, Artymatas; Christofi, Charalambides, Margaça; Sotiriou
SUBS | Michael, Avraam, Katelaris, Georgallides, Alexandrou, Englezou, Charalambous, Stylianou, Kyriakou, Mitidis, Oikonomidis, Makris
SUBS | Michael, Avraam, Katelaris, Georgallides, Alexandrou, Englezou, Charalambous, Stylianou, Kyriakou, Mitidis, Oikonomidis, Makris
Cyprus, who currently sit 91st in the FIFA world rankings, were desperately seeking a victory heading into Friday evening's match with Gibraltar as they had won just one of their five Qualification Group H games, and sat several points adrift of the top of the table.
Walsall striker Andreas Makris, who scored just one goal over the course of his debut season at Banks's Stadium, had to make do with a place on the bench as Head Coach Christakis Christoforou looked at his options.
Cyprus opened the scoring after just ten minutes of play as Lincoln Red Imps defender Roy Chipolina scored an own goal. The centre back failed to deal with a fairly tame cross into the box as he sent a looping header over stranded goalkeeper Deren Ibrahim. A disappointing start for Gibraltar, who had scored just two goals in their five previous qualification games, conceding twenty-two.
The home side withstood plenty of Cyprus pressure, and were often forced to sit back as the visitors looked to find an opening, but would go on to level the scores just before the half-hour mark. Gibraltar United forward Anthony Hernandez was the man to level the tie as he collected the ball from fellow attacker Liam Walker, and slotted past Constantinos Panayi in the Cypriot goal.
Makris was brought on to the pitch after seventy-three minutes as he replaced FC Sion forward Demetris Christofi, not much time for the 21-year-old to make an impact.
Cyprus would go on to grab the winning goal with just minutes to go as APOEL striker Pieros Sotiriou found the back of the net with a neatly placed header on the 87 minute mark. A cruel goal for the hosts to take as they remain at the foot of the group, without a single point to their name.
Though the statistics will show that Cyprus had much more of the ball, it was Gibraltar that posed a real threat and forced the most saves. The hosts will no doubt be somewhat disappointed to leave empty handed.
Walsall striker Andreas Makris, who scored just one goal over the course of his debut season at Banks's Stadium, had to make do with a place on the bench as Head Coach Christakis Christoforou looked at his options.
Cyprus opened the scoring after just ten minutes of play as Lincoln Red Imps defender Roy Chipolina scored an own goal. The centre back failed to deal with a fairly tame cross into the box as he sent a looping header over stranded goalkeeper Deren Ibrahim. A disappointing start for Gibraltar, who had scored just two goals in their five previous qualification games, conceding twenty-two.
The home side withstood plenty of Cyprus pressure, and were often forced to sit back as the visitors looked to find an opening, but would go on to level the scores just before the half-hour mark. Gibraltar United forward Anthony Hernandez was the man to level the tie as he collected the ball from fellow attacker Liam Walker, and slotted past Constantinos Panayi in the Cypriot goal.
Makris was brought on to the pitch after seventy-three minutes as he replaced FC Sion forward Demetris Christofi, not much time for the 21-year-old to make an impact.
Cyprus would go on to grab the winning goal with just minutes to go as APOEL striker Pieros Sotiriou found the back of the net with a neatly placed header on the 87 minute mark. A cruel goal for the hosts to take as they remain at the foot of the group, without a single point to their name.
Though the statistics will show that Cyprus had much more of the ball, it was Gibraltar that posed a real threat and forced the most saves. The hosts will no doubt be somewhat disappointed to leave empty handed.
2018 FIFA World Cup (UEFA Qualification Group H) - RESULT
AT | Estádio Algarve, Almancil, Portugal
GIBRALTAR 1 CYPRUS 2
HALF-TIME | 1-1
GOALS | Hernandez (29') - R.Chipolina OG (10'), Sotiriou (87')
