10-MAN CYPRUS GET RESULT IN LJUBLJANA

Cyprus played well for the first hour, leading thanks to an early Marinos Tzionis goal, but after going down to ten men, did finally concede, but Cyprus still were able to get a result in a friendly at Slovenia in Ljubljana. This was Cyprus’s thirteenth ever meeting with Slovenia, this is the fourth draw. Otherwise, Cyprus have beaten Slovenia three times, but lost to them six times. This is also the first of four consecutive away fixtures for Cyprus, who won’t play at home again until October. Cyprus will next play on Sunday in another friendly, visiting Liechtenstein in Vaduz. Cyprus have never played Liechtenstein before. 

Cyprus visited Slovenia in an international friendly at Stadion Stozice in Ljubljana. An early chance fell for the hosts, but Zan Vipotnik put it wide. Marinos Tzionis had an effort that was turned aside by Slovenian goalkeeper and Captain, Jan Oblak. Just a minute later in the seventh minute, Cyprus struck first. Stavros Georgiou found Tzionis going to the net, and with a smart finish he beat Oblak to put Cyprus up 1-0. 

Cyprus came looking for more, and Panayiotis Andreou found himself with a shooting lane, but his effort was right at Oblak. Slovenia came looking for an equalizer and a good cross came in for Danijel Sturm, and Fabiano did very well to deny the powerful header.Tamar Svetlin had a free kick from a wide position, Fabiano got to it first, but could only punch it as far as Vipotnik, who mercifully shanked it wide.  

Late in the first half, Cyprus earned a corner, and eventually it came to Christos Shelis, who put a header on goal, but it lacked power and Oblak had plenty of time to adjust to its flight and haul it in. Grigoris Kastanos, wearing the armband, had a go from outside the box, and it didn’t miss by much. Cyprus took a 1-0 lead into halftime. 

With a pair of halftime changes, Slovenia had more energy to start the second half. Adam Gnezda Cerin had a well-placed strike that Fabiano needed to intervene to keep it out. Nonetheless, just past the hour mark, Cyprus seemed to be on cruise control, until Panayiotis Andreou picked up a second yellow and was sent off, putting Cyprus down a man. Right away, Slovenia smelled blood in the water, and Sandi Lovric forced a great save from Fabiano.  

 The pressure did not relent though, and eventually the hosts got level. Lovric was denied by Fabiano in tight, and Fabiano did very well to kick out his leg and stop the rebound, but the ball was still loose and the third time was a charm, Vanja Drkusic finally beat Fabiano to make it 1-1 in the 66th minute. 

Cerin had an effort slowed down by Kastanos, which made for an easier save for Fabiano. Lovric came knocking again, and Fabiano with his best save of the match, sprawled out to rob him. Andraz Sporar found himself alone with Fabiano, but somehow he missed the net, and he was offside anyway. After Cyprus cleared the box, Oblak came all the way into the Cypriot half to play it back in and Adrian Zeljkovic got a good chance out of it, but it narrowly missed. The pressure subsided, and Cyprus kept Slovenia at bay the rest of the way, and hung on to salvage at least a 1-1 draw. 

Slovenia(Bostjan Cesar): 1. Jan Oblak(GK, Captain), 5. Srdan Kuzmic(’63 2. Zan Karnicnik), 6. Jaka Bijol, 23. David Brekalo(’63 21. Vanja Drkusic), 13. Erik Janza, 10. Svit Seslar(’46 11. Tjas Begic), 22. Adam Gnezda Cerin(’85 26. Adrian Zeljkovic), 14. Tamar Svetlin(’46 8. Sandi Lovric), 7. Benjamin Verbic(’63 9. Andraz Sporar), 18. Zan Vipotnik(’85 25. Ester Sokler), 15. Danijel Sturm(’88 24. Tjan Koren) 

Cyprus(Apostolos Mantzios): 1. Fabiano(GK), 14. Giorgos Malekkidis, 19. Kostas Laifis, 15. Christos Shelis, 26. Andreas Shikkis(’85 25. Giorgos Naoum), 5. Charalambos Charalambous(’58 13. Ioannis Kosti), 16. Panayiotis Andreou, 20. Grigoris Kastanos(’85 6. Giannis Satsias), 21. Marinos Tzionis(’58 11. Andronikos Kakoullis), 24. Stavros Georgiou(’72 18. Andreas Christou), 9. Ioannis Pittas(’72 8. Chambos Kyriakou) 

Andrew Mantzas 

Twitter: @MantzasSport