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!

The Cypriots imposed themselves on the game from the first whistle, their steely defensive posture destroying all Belgian ambitions before they materialised into tangible threats. Spreading the game left and right to Charalambous and Georgakoudis they stretched the Belgians to their limits, and with Voudouris threading menacing through-balls to Anastasiades, the first goal was a matter of time. It didn’t take long for that to happen, when Papoutsas found Georgakoudis on the right, his shot rebounding off the Belgian keeper for Anastasiades to convert easily.

The second half started with Belgium regaining some initiative and trying to move the game into the Cypriots’ half. The defense of Cyprus BXL FC was once again brimming with confidence however, with Dellopoulos and Telemachou in total control of all incoming traffic, Antonakopoulos and Formosa standing like massive defensive walls on the flanks. Gogakis made a fantastic save the only time Belgium threatened his goal and minutes later, Papoutsas got his fifth of the season with an incisive drive into the Belgian box and a great shot into the bottom right corner.

All in all certainly not the best night of the year so far for the Cypriots, but a convincing win against a very good mid-table opponent. Despite the lack of games and training due to the big freeze of the last three weeks, the Cypriots didn’t lose their touch or their solidity on the pitch. Even with the tough games against the other top-4 sides coming up, they can gaze the future with confidence and, why not, greater ambition.

Man of the match for last night is split between the creative and the destructive sides of the team: Voudouris as an attacking midfielded, Formosa on right back. Both were fantastic in their roles, executing their missions to perfection.

Starting XI: Gogakis, Formosa, Dellopoulos, Telemachou, Antonakopoulos, Anastasiou (Gogos), Papoutsas, Charalambous (Severis), Georgakoudis (Orphanides), Voudouris (Leontiou), Anastasiades.

Next game for Cyprus BXL FC is the derby against 3^rd-place Romania on Thursday February 23 at the ISB.