NINE MAN OMONOIA DENIED ON PENALTIES

Omonoia will have to wait at least another year to qualify for their first ever UEFA Champions League, losing the return leg 1-0 to Kairat Almaty in Almaty after a 1-0 win last week in Nicosia. Despite going down to ten and eventually nine men, Omonoia hung on for penalties, but penalties did not go their way. Omonoia once again fail to qualify and will now attempt to qualify for the UEFA Europa League. The curse also continues, Omonoia have now on nine occasions won by a goal in the first leg at home and for the seventh time of those nine, they failed to seal the deal and advance.

Omonoia visited Kairat Almaty at Almaty Ortalyk Stadion in Almaty. After a tentative start, the home side had a dangerous first chance, a glancing header from Oiva Jukkola hit the bottom of the crossbar, but never completely crossed the goal line and stayed out. Ewandro Costa sped down the middle and eventually found Mihaili Mayambela cutting to the net, but he rushed his shot and put it over the net.

However, in a repeat of last week, Omonoia once again found themselves down a man, after play had been whistled down, Andronikos Kakoullis appears to step on the leg of Lev Kurgin. Kakoullis was shown a straight red card, leaving Omonoia to once again defend for their lives.

Unfortunately for Omonoia, Kairat quickly took advantage this time, they made two immediate substitutions and one came with instant gratification, a cross found the head of Edmilson, it seemed like Fabiano would make the save, but the ball snuck through his arms, 1-0 for Kairat, which ended up being the halftime score.

Kairat opened the second half smelling blood, Ismail Bekbolat pounced on a loose ball let out by a shaken Fabiano, but Fabiano cleaned up his own mess by turning him aside and then stopping the rebound from Marc Gual. Fabiano was beaten from a bad angle by Jaakko Oksanen, but he was bailed out by the offside flag. Gual then unleashed a powerful strike, but the woodwork bailed Fabiano out a second time. The full time score was a 1-0 win for Kairat, 1-1 on aggregate and so the match proceeded to extra time.

Oksanen had a go from outside the box, but Fabiano was alert to it and made a nice save. Azamat Tuyakbayev then tested him from closer, but Fabiano seemed to have regained his confidence and made another important save. The score remained 1-0 for Kairat and 1-1 on aggregate after 105 minutes.

As if life wasn’t difficult enough for Omonoia, Senou Coulibaly took a second yellow and Omonoia were now down to nine men. Gual got a point blank chance that Fabiano was able to kick out and the rebound came to Edmilson who shanked it wide. Omonoia held firm and the final score was 1-0 for Kairat, 1-1 overall and Omonoia’s fate would come down to penalties.

Edmilson went first for Kairat and sent Fabiano the wrong way. Tasos Chatzigiovanis returned the favor for Omonoia. Oksanen put Kairat back ahead. Jure Balkovec was then stopped by Temirlan Anarbekov. Captain Aleksandr Martynovich kept it going for Kairat. Panayiotis Andreou stepped up and hit the net to keep Omonoia in the running. Then Fabiano was able to stop Olzhas Baibek. Then Angelos Neophyotu put Omonoian level. Gual gave Kairat the advantage, but Ioannis Kousoulos held serve. Tuyakbayev restored the Kairat advantage. Andreas Christou answered back. Mansur Birkurmanov once again sent Fabiano the wrong way, and this time Anarbekov denied Nikolas Panayiotou and denied Omonoia their first ever trip to the UEFA Champions League.

Kairat Almaty(Rafael Urazbakhtin): 1. Temirlan Anarbekov(GK), 3. Luis Mata, 44. Lucas Africo(‘102 25. Alexandr Shirobokov), 14. Aleksandr Martynovich(Captain), 22. Gustavo Mendonca(’72 8. Olzhas Baibek), 13. Jaakko Oksanen, 5. Lev Kurgin(’36 81. Ismail Bekbolat)(’72 17. Azamat Tuyakbayev), 19. Oiva Jukkola(80 15. Mansur Birkurmanov), 4. Damir Kassabulat(’36 9. Edmilson), 24. Alexandr Mrynskiy, 28. Marc Gual

Omonoia(Henning Berg): 40. Fabiano(GK, Captain), 27.Stefan Simic(’76 82. Andreas Christou), 5. Senou Coulibaly, 30. Nikolas Panayiotou, 29. Jure Balkovec, 14. Mateo Maric, 22. Muamer Tankovic(’65 10. Tasos Chatzigiovanis), 74. Panayiotis Andreou, 11. Ewandro Costa(’76 31. Ioannis Kousoulos), 21. Mihaili Mayambela(’65 99. Lois Diony)(‘114 85. Angelos Neophytou), 9. Andronikos Kakoullis

Andrew Mantzas

Twitter: @MantzasNC