KOSOVO CONTINUES TO HAVE CYPRUS’ NUMBER

Cyprus are playing better under Sofronis Avgousti, but the results still look the same, as Cyprus falls 3-0 to Kosovo in UEFA Nations League action in Pristina. Cyprus played with a lot more confidence and for long stretches looked every bit the equal of Kosovo. In the end, however, it was still another loss, and still another comfortable win for Kosovo. Cyprus have now lost all four encounters with Kosovo, and none of them have been particularly close. Cyprus remains in third place in Group C2, ahead of Lithuania, but well behind Romania and Kosovo. Cyprus will next play at home to Lithuania on the 15th of November in Larnaca.

Cyprus visited Kosovo at the Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri in Pristina. Cyprus opened with some attacking intent and indeed the early minutes were evenly played, instead of Cyprus’s usual sitting back, especially under the previous regime of Timur Ketsbaia. Ironically, the best chance was from midfield, as Ioannis Pittas caught the Kosovo goalkeeper Arijanet Muric well out of position, but Muric was let off, as the attempt bounced wide.

But it was Kosovo that struck first, as their Captain, Amir Rrahmani with some fancy dribbling, sidestepped Andreas Karo, and definitely got the better of Stelios Andreou, before beating Dimitris Demetriou low to make it 1-0 for Kosovo on the half hour mark.

Cyprus tried to answer, Loizos Loizou had the first attempt on target, but it was a weak header easily turned aside by Muric. Kosovo came looking for more, Donat Rrudhani did well to open Muharrem Jashari wide open, but Jashari narrowly missed the net. Charalambos Charalambous did well to put himself in space, and fired off a shot, but Muric was in good position and made the save.

Cyprus were given a huge reprieve just before halftime. A through ball sent Albion Rrahmani in on goal, and Andreou was very late in his intervention, knocking Rrahmani down for what would have been a deserved penalty, but VAR ruled the initial through ball was void, as Rrahmani was offside, limiting Cyprus’s halftime deficit to just 1-0.

Kosovo opened the second half with a dangerous chance, as Jashari scorched one on goal. Demetriou made the save, there was a rebound available, but Demetriou found it before Albion Rrahmani could. Loizou at the other end dribbled through a maze of blue shirts, and then centered it out in front to Charalambous, and Muric sprawled out to deny him.

As so often happens, a near miss at one end is paid back at the other end. Kosovo countered, and Jashari took a shot that took an awkward deflection off Andreou’s back, and right to Ermal Krasniqi, who with a quick release, placed it perfectly where Demetriou, nor anyone else, would ever get it, doubling Kosovo’s advantage.

Kosovo didn’t let up from there. Krasniqi looped in a cross for Albion Rrahmani, who despite having two Cypriot defenders on him, still got a shot off that Demetriou kicked aside, but the rebound came to Emir Sahiti, and even though Demetriou reacted well, he was not going to get to it, and the sub made it 3-0.

Kosovo never let up and continued to press, and somehow didn’t make it 4-0, as Fisnik Asllani fresh off the bench found himself all alone with only Demetriou to beat, but Demetriou cut down the angle, and somehow was able to deny him.

Speaking of denial, it looked like Cyprus would at least have something to celebrate, Pieros Sotiriou was able to head a cross past Muric in what would have been his first goal in two and a half years, but harshly, VAR called it back, ruling that some minimal contact with Fidan Aliti in the buildup should have been called a foul. As a result, Kosovo preserved the clean sheet for Muric, and 3-0 was the final score.

Kosovo(Franco Foda): 1. Arijanet Muric(GK), 15. Mergim Vojvoda, 13. Amir Rrahmani(Captain)(’77 3. Fidan Aliti), 5. Lumbardh Dellova, 21. Donat Rrudhani, 19. Lindon Emerllahu, 22. Muharrem Jashari, 10. Edon Zhegrova(’67 20. Emir Sahiti), 7. Milot Rashica(’16 8. Florent Muslija), 17. Ermal Krasniqi, 9. Albion Rrahmani(’77 11. Fisnik Asllani)

Cyprus(Sofronis Avgousti): 13. Dimitris Demetriou(GK), 19. Kostas Laifis, 2. Andreas Karo(’72 7. Minas Antoniou), 16. Stelios Andreou, 4. Nikolas Ioannou(’46 14. Kostas Pileas), 18. Kostakis Artymatas(Captain), 5. Charalambos Charalambous, 11. Andreas Makris(’72 21. Marinos Tzionis), 17. Loizos Loizou, 20. Grigoris Kastanos(’72 12. Rafail Mamas), 9. Ioannis Pittas(’77 10. Pieros Sotiriou)

Andrew Mantzas

Twitter: @MantzasNC