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.

Coach Nikolian started the game with his trademark 4-2-3-1 formation, Formosas returning in right back, Orphanides on the left, and Dellopoulos-Antonakopoulos in central defence. Severis and Telemachou were in centre-midfield, Leontiou and Georgakoudis on the wings, Rossides up front and Agorakis in a free-ranging role behind him. It didn’t take long for them to establish themselves in the game, taking the upper hand in midfield and producing some excellent combination football going forward. It at least two instances their flowing movements sliced the Italian defence wide open, but first Georgakoudis and then Rossides didn’t manage to convert.

Italy rebalanced the situation for the first ten minutes of the second half, but Cyprus BXL FC repelled their efforts with ease and soon regained the initiative. Papoutsas, Anastasiou and Charalambous came off the bench with fresh legs and helped push the Italians into their box. Goalscoring opportunities were coming thick and fast for the Cypriots, Telemachou's shot unluckily hitting the cross bar, while Charalambous, Papoutsas and Georgakoudis missed clear chances.

Ten minutes before the end a penetrating diagonal ball sent the once again excellent Agorakis through in the Italian box, forcing the keeper off his line and producing a penalty for Cyprus from the clumsy challenge. Anastasiou stepped up to take it, but a brilliant save from the Italian keeper kept the ball out.

The shock of the missed penalty was obvious in the Cypriot players, who seemed to be losing their focus and shape on the pitch. Italy pushed forward, and after a warning shot three minutes from time which was saved heroically off the line by Formosa, they attacked one last time before the final whistle, and managed to sneak one past Gogakis, who had so far had his quietest game of the season.

The ref blew the final whistle, leaving the Cypriots gasping with disbelief at the blatantly unfair result. With a bit more concentration and perhaps some luck upfront the result would have been very different. In the end they paid the heavy price for those lost opportunities, and were left to ponder what could have been. 

All things considered, however,  there was a silver lining last night, and a considerable one at that. Cyprus BXL FC dominated one of the top teams of the league, playing fluid and attractive possession football. They played with imagination and confidence, which they can build on for their last three games of the season and the tough playoff rounds.

Man of the match for last night goes to Agorakis, whose contribution in the creative side was invaluable, and to the reappearing Formosa in right back for a rock-solid performance.

Next game for Cyprus BXL FC is on April 19 against Bulgaria at the ISB.