Euro2004 Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 This is arguably APOEL's most winnable game, and that tells us just how hard this group is! With Kontis tragically being forced to retire APOEL will have to adapt without him. APOEL prepared for the game by beating Alki 3-1 in the league today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euro2004 Posted September 11, 2011 Author Share Posted September 11, 2011 Zenit St Petersburg lost 4-2 at Lokomotiv Moscow, despite being 0-2 up at half time, ahead of Tuesday game with APOEL! Lazovic and Bukharov were their scorers. For those that aren't familiar with Zenit, they play very attractive open football, using the width well with their marauding wing backs, Anyukov and Criscito. Zenit have scored 12 goals in their last 3 games but their open play does mean that they like to dominate possession and they can be a little vulnerable at the back at times. One centre back is former AEK & Porto defender Bruno Alves who has all the physical attributes to be world class, but his positional sense isn't always great. While his centre back partner Lombaerts isn't great. Zyrianov and Danny are too very competant play makers while Denisov is an experienced holding midfield. Lazovic is a constant thorn with his drifting around from forward to the flanks. Arguably their star man is Kerzhakov though. He has 13 goals in 19 games! APOEL will need to control the tempo by playing their usual short passing game. If the pitch is slow like it was against Wisla APOEL can be competitive. Zenit are a very good team though so I'm not too optimistic. I see a 1-2 win for Zenit. I'm sure many of you will remember that Zenit beat AEK Athens 4-2 and 0-3 last season so we're talking about an excellent attacking team, capable of tearing any Hellenic team if they are on form and our boys aren't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euro2004 Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share Posted September 13, 2011 The big night is finally here. Good luck APOEL! :gr: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omonoia9 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 APOEL 22 Chiotis(GK) 3 Paulo Jorge 6 Oliveira 7 Poursaitidis 26 Morais 98 Boaventura 21 Manduca 23 Pinto(Captain) 81 Marcinho 8 Ailton 11 Trickovski BENCH 88 Kissas(GK) 5 Jahic 10 Charalambidis 20 Adorno 29 Alexandrou 77 Solomou 9 Solari Manager: Ivan Jovanovic(SRB_ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omonoia9 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 ZENIT ST. PETERSBURG 16 Malafeev(GK) 2 Anyukov(Captain) 3 Alves 4 Criscito 6 Lombaerts 14 Hubocan 15 Shirokov 18 Zyryanov 27 Denisov 10 Danny 11 Kerzhakov BENCH 30 Zhevnov(GK) 24 Lukovic 17 Rosina 20 Fayzulin 23 Huszti 8 Lazovic 9 Bukharov Manager: Luciano Spalletti(ITA) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omonoia9 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 APOEL 0-0 Zenit HT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irlandos Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 So far, the ref has shown 4 yellows: one to Marcelo Oliveira and three to Zenit players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euro2004 Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share Posted September 13, 2011 Saw the first 20 mins, APOEL were dominating possession. Anyone watching? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irlandos Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 APOEL 22 Chiotis(GK) 3 Paulo Jorge 6 Oliveira 7 Poursaitidis 26 Morais 98 Boaventura 21 Manduca 23 Pinto(Captain) 81 Marcinho 8 Ailton 11 Trickovski The only Greeks in this lineup are both from the mainland. Where are the Cypriots? :huh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irlandos Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Saw the first 20 mins, APOEL were dominating possession. Anyone watching? Sorry, Euro2004!I got distracted with this other game being played at Karaiskaki. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irlandos Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Totally against the run of play, Zenit score on a counterattack 0-1 :angry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euro2004 Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share Posted September 13, 2011 Totally against the run of play, Zenit score on a counterattack 0-1 :angry: Gutted I thought APOEL might nick it the way the game was going :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euro2004 Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share Posted September 13, 2011 YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1-1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irlandos Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Gustavo Manduca (ex-AEK) equalises! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euro2004 Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share Posted September 13, 2011 2-1!!!!!!!!!! BEAUTIFUL TEAM GOAL!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irlandos Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Ailton!!!! :tup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euro2004 Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share Posted September 13, 2011 FULL TIME: 2-1. Zenit went down to 10 men after APOEL were winning 2-1 but they still pushed forward and hit the post. So APEOL were a little lucky, but to beat a team of Zenit's calibre is amazing. Zenit are top of the Russian league and would probably beat any Greek team, so this is superb. APOEL played brilliant football and deserved the win Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omonoia9 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Unbelievable! APOEL beat a better team than the one Olympiakos lost to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euro2004 Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share Posted September 13, 2011 Unbelievable! APOEL beat a better team than the one Olympiakos lost to. It's not really that unbelievable because APOEL are better than Olympiakos. Better defensively, certainly a better passing team, better tactically and have more self belief. Excellent little team Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omonoia9 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Easy to think so. Olympiakos also hadn't played yet, so I think that hurt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euro2004 Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share Posted September 13, 2011 Easy to think so. Olympiakos also hadn't played yet, so I think that hurt. To be honest it's hopeful to pretend that tonight was a one off for Olympiakos. I mean last season a basketball team knocked them out. The year before Anorthosis knocked them out. When APOEL were here last time they were in the toughest possible group. Chelsea (CL contenders), Porto, Atletico Madrid (who went on to win the Europa League). This Olympiakos team wouldn't score a goal in that group let alone do as well as APOEL. APOEL drew at Stamford Bridge and against Atletico twice and nobody beat them by more than one goal. Apart from reputation there's nothing to suggest Olympiakos are better. APOEL have done better in Europe in recent years, they play better quality football and they are a team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omonoia9 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I think overall the Cypriot clubs play more like teams. Omonoia were unlucky to not go through, AEK Larnaca look at them, Anorthosi not too long ago were doing some great things. Cypriot football is on the rise and the Greek game is on the decline and has been for a few years now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euro2004 Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share Posted September 13, 2011 I think overall the Cypriot clubs play more like teams. Omonoia were unlucky to not go through, AEK Larnaca look at them, Anorthosi not too long ago were doing some great things. Cypriot football is on the rise and the Greek game is on the decline and has been for a few years now.Yeah but playing as a team is a skill in itself. Look at Bruno Alves as an example of a centre back that has all the attributes. He's big, strong, fast, and is technically gifted for a defender. In that respect he's better than Ricardo Cavalho in every respect, but Cavalho is a better defender because he has better positional sense and reads the game better. In other words he's a better team player. So the ability to fit into a team is a skill in itself. Besides man for man Olympiakos isn't necessarily better than APOEL anyway. Chiotis vs Constanzo: I'd take Chiotis Torosidis vs Poursaitidis: Torosidis. Holebas vs Boaventura: equal. Mellberg vs Oliveira: Mellberg. Avraam vs Paolo Jorge: Jorge Makoun vs Nuno Morais: Makoun David Fuster vs Marcinho: Fuster Yeste vs Trichovski: Trichovski Abdoun vs Manduca: Manduca Mirallas vs Pinto : Mirallas Djebbour vs Ailton : possibly equal 5-4 to Olympiakos. Big deal. It's not like Olympiakos are better in every department individually speaking, whereas APOEL is better in every department as a unit. Better defensive unit, better midfield unit too. If APOEL played Olympiakos over two legs I know who my money would be on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bides Posted September 14, 2011 Share Posted September 14, 2011 i had to reply to the last comment od djebour being equal to ailton?? wht the f has djebour done in the last two years..how many goals has he scored in europe ailton has like 6 this year.. apoel has 3 points olympiacos has a koolori!!! i was at this game today Apoel have something special enough with the m*****es olympiacos has big problems europe looks like a bust for them this year... and irlandos solomou and alexandrou came on there greek cypriot too....we have a deep bench thats why some of these players cant crack the sqaud.. our captain charalambides my name sake has to sit on the bench because he doesnt have a place in the eleven right now...this is a great fighting for a spot....anyhow kalinixta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euro2004 Posted September 15, 2011 Author Share Posted September 15, 2011 i had to reply to the last comment od djebour being equal to ailton?? wht the f has djebour done in the last two years..how many goals has he scored in europe ailton has like 6 this year.. apoel has 3 points olympiacos has a koolori!!! i was at this game today Apoel have something special enough with the m*****es olympiacos has big problems europe looks like a bust for them this year... and irlandos solomou and alexandrou came on there greek cypriot too....we have a deep bench thats why some of these players cant crack the sqaud.. our captain charalambides my name sake has to sit on the bench because he doesnt have a place in the eleven right now...this is a great fighting for a spot....anyhow kalinixta I wouldn't argue with u to be honest. There is an argument to be made that Ailton is better, that's exactly the point i'm making that Cypriot football has advanced. I can't believe how bad PAOK just looked against Tottenham's 3rd team. APOEL would have beaten them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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