Cyprus BXL FC bow out after losing 4-2 in grand final thriller

The starting XI of the final

Cyprus BXL FC lost 4-2 to Romania in tonight’s Euroleague final, missing their great opportunity for championship glory. It was just one of those days for Cyprus, where things went wrong from the word go. They left the pitch in disappointment knowing that history will hardly ever remember the runner-up of a final, but they also know where they were and where they got to this year: from mid-table mediocrity, they came all the way to the final and challenged for the title with all they had. And you can be sure that come September, they will be fighting with the same passion to be back here for more.

Pregame Grand Final: Cyprus BXL FC vs Romania

Cyprus BXL FC is making its first appearance in a BXL Euroleague today at the Stade Communal d’Ixelles (Rue Volta 18 Ixelles, 1700 kickoff), where it will do battle against Romania for the the championship title. Cyprus is in the final after an epic victory over 2011 champions Spain, a team which were everyone’s favourite to go all the way this year as well, having finished the regular season with an incredible unbeaten record.

Cyprus BXL FC are going into this game confident in everything they’ve achieved in this year’s championship, but are desperately hungry for more.

Cyprus BXL FC say ¡adios! to Spain to reach final

It's almost too good to be true: Cyprus BXL FC have beaten last year’s champions tonight to reach the final, where they will battle against Romania for the 2012 title. It’s an achievement of herculean proportions. Spain is the team that has not lost since November 2010, counting 48 games with a only a handful of draws between endless winning streaks, and putting out performances that, even at this grassroots level, are often reminiscent of vintage spanish football. Not last week, and not tonight. The Cypriots managed to beat them 0-1 in their home ground and lead the game to penalties, where goalkeeper Gogakis was a giant, saving three out of five to send his team to the final. 

Great success for Cyprus BXL FC - at the annual summer BBQ

The annual barbeque of Cyprus BXL FC took place yesterday Chez Panique, with resounding success. 


A great many thanks to the 120 friends of the team that honoured us with their presence and support, and we hope that you enjoyed it as much as we did! 


Here's a small selection of photos from the event 

Cyprus BXL FC lose 1-0 to Spain despite fantastic performance in first semi-final

It was a bitter night for Cyprus BXL FC at the ISB on Friday, coming out with nothing in a game where victory was within touching distance. 


Putting in one of their best performances this season, they had defending champions Spain pinned to one third of the pitch for parts of the game, but they missed unforgettable chances to create facts on the ground. Two bad referee decisions gave a goal to Spain and a penalty to Cyprus, that was eventually missed.

Pre-game: Cyprus BXL FC face off with Spain for first semi-final leg

Cyprus BXL FC are facing off with Spain tonight for the first leg of their semi-final tie of the BXL Euroleague. This is the first time the Cypriots travel so far in the competition, whereas for Spain this is familiar territory, having won last year’s title. Ask any connoisseur of the BXL Euroleague and they will tell you that this is a tie with roles clearly assigned – the Spaniards as the favourites to go through and defend their title, and the Cypriots as the underdogs that will be out playing against the odds.

Cyprus BXL FC march into the semis!

Cyprus BXL FC made the big step to the top-4 teams of the BXL Euroleague last night, with a sweet, fully inconsequential 0-1 defeat to Italy in the return leg of their quarter-final tie. The Cypriots had been hovering around the top 4 of the league table all season, and the feeling last night was that they got their just desert. Italy had the upper hand for most of the game, but Cyprus BXL FC submitted once again their credentials in passion, dedication and focus in defense to secure a result that sends them to the semi-finals for the first time in their seven year history.

Cyprus BXL FC keep semi-finals dream alive with 2-0 win over Italy

Cyprus BXL FC took a steady step towards the BXL Euroleague semi-finals last night, with a 2-0 victory over Italy in the first quarter-final leg. The Cypriots put in a convincing performance that with some luck and a bit more focus in attack could have secured them a bigger lead in view of the return leg next week. Anastasiou and Rossides were the scorers this week, both goals coming from beautifully taken corner kicks by Agorakis.

Cyprus BXL FC steamroll Finland 6-1 to advance to quarter-finals

Cyprus BXL FC secured a spot in the quarter finals last night with an imperious 6-1 victory over Finland, under the masterful guidance of Yiannakis Giangoudakis at the side of regular coach Nikolian. Steamrolling in football is certainly not fun for both teams, but boy did the Cypriots enjoy it last night, making the otherwise compact and solid Finnish team look like putty in their hands! By the end of the first half, Agorakis had already scored a hat trick, and Rossides two. Anastasiou scored the sixth close to the end of the game.

Cyprus BXL FC draw 1-1 with Finland away from home for first playoff leg

Cyprus BXL FC managed to get a good result away from home last night against Finland for the first leg of the first playoff round of the BXL Euroleague. They must be happy for the draw, as Finland had two shots hitting the woodwork, and their performance was lacking the soundness and fluidity of previous games. They will look to capitalise on last night's away goal (scored by Papoutsas) when they play the return leg at the ISB next week and they must improve drastically in functional terms if they have higher aspirations for this season.

Cyprus BXL FC finish regular season with emphatic 0-3 over Czechoslovakia

Cyprus BXL FC ended their regular season games in ideal fashion last night with an imposing 0-3 victory over Czechoslovakia at Diependal. With these three points they secured 5^th place in the standings of the BXL Euroleague in view of the playoffs, which is their highest ever regular season finish since the founding of the club. Their defence is the second best of the league, with only 19 goals in 19 games, and having tallied an impressive 11 wins, 4 draws and just 4 defeats in a long season that started in August. 

Cyprus BXL FC beat Slovenia 4-2 and secure 6th playoff place

Cyprus BXL FC sealed an impressive 6^th-place position in the regular season of the BXL league last night, with a 4-2 victory over Slovenia. This is the best league position achieved in the history of the club. The Cypriots didn’t put in one of their best performances of the year, but they fully exploited the Slovenia's defensive weaknesses to clinch a victory which might prove important in the near future. With this they also managed to stay within range of 5^th place, pending their last game of the season on Sunday.

Cyprus BXL FC drop more points, 1-1 vs Bulgaria

Another week without victory for Cyprus BXL FC, as they drew 1-1 against Bulgaria, in a game where they should have left with more profit. The dream of a top-4 position now is unfulfillable, but they still have the prestigious 5th place to play for in their remaining two games for the regular season.

Cyprus BXL FC punished by Italy for lost chances, 0-1

Cyprus BXL FC played one of its best games this season last night in Ixelles, but didn’t manage to capitalise on its opportunities, and lost in the dying minutes of the game 0-1 to Italy. The Cypriots were superior for the entire game but squandered heaps of clear chances to score, including a penalty in the second half. In the end, the Azzuri stole the game in the last action of the game. Bitter result for Cyprus, but with performances like last night's, they can believe in more for the future.

Disappointing night for Cyprus BXL FC, losing 4-1 to Poland

The writing was on the wall for Cyprus BXL FC from very early in the game last night against Poland at the ISB. 20 minutes into the game Poland was 3-0 up, leaving the Cypriots wondering where the game had gone. A disappointing night overall, but one that must be rapidly forgotten if Cyprus BXL FC wants to stay in sight of its objectives.

Cyprus BXL FC beats Sweden 2-1 ending their three year unbeaten record!

22 March 2012: the day when Sweden’s imperious 42-game unbeaten run in the BXL Euroleague came to an end. The boys from Cyprus were the culprits, beating the 2009-10 champions 2-1 in a cliffhanger game that will stay in collective memory for many years to come. Voudouris and Severis were the scorers of two magnificent goals for the Cypriots, who can deservedly look at the final stretch of the championship with more ambition.

Cyprus BXL FC draw 0-0 against UK

Last night’s 0-0 draw against the UK was definitely not a game that many in the Cyprus BXL FC bunch will remember for long. If at all, it will be remembered as another lost opportunity and two points lost in a game that should have, and could have, been won.

The two teams were quite evenly matched throughout the game in their solid defensive postures, and their inability to create meaningful chances in attack. During the first half the creative side of Cyprus BXL FC was completely dormant, and bar one shot from Anastasiades and a couple of set pieces that brought the ball into the UK penalty area, no scoring opportunities were created.

Cyprus BXL FC lose 1-3 to Sweden and are out of the Cup

Second consecutive defeat for Cyprus BXL FC last night, this time for the Presidency Cup against Sweden. Cyprus lost 3-1 to a generally better team, and has been knocked out of the competition. It was a tough night for the Cypriots last night, who were forced to reconsider one of their primary objectives for the season.

Cyprus BXL FC lose 2-4 to Romania in top-4 derby

Cyprus BXL FC did not manage to sustain their early 2-0 lead last night and lost fairly 2-4 to a superior Romanian side in an enthralling game at Ixelles.

Another three in the bag for Cyprus BXL FC, 2-0 over Belgium

Cyprus BXL FC clinched another three points against Belgium last night with what one might call an almost professional performance: what they lacked in luster and panache in their 2-0 victory away from home, they more than made up with effectiveness in attack and impermeability in defense. With this victory, their eighth in eleven games, they are still in the top-4 group of the BXL Euroleague, three points ahead of Italy with a game in hand, and still with the best defense of the Championship with an unbelievable record of 6 conceded goals in 11 games!

Cyprus BXL FC march into top-4 with difficult win over Austria

Cyprus BXL FC managed to put another 3 points in the bag last night after a tense and scrappy away game against Austria. The Cypriot attack was not at its best last night, squandering many chances throughout the game, but was saved very late in the game by a contentious penalty decision in its favour, which was converted by Anastasiades.

Cyprus BXL FC start 2012 with impressive five against Portugal

The annual Cyprus-Portugal game is as close as one gets to an El Classico at this level of football: two of the oldest teams of the League, oozing with passion, sometimes flare and often hot tempers, controversy, usually ending with lots of goals in the scoreline. Coming out of such a game with five goals in your favour and only one against is really a best case scenario, especially in a year where both teams seem to be going for the same top-tier target.