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GREECE DEFEAT ARMENIA IN FINAL EURO 2012 WARMUP
Malaysia Star
http://football.thestar.com.my/2012/06/01/greece-defeat-armenia-in-final-euro-2012-warmup/
June 1 2012
Malaysia
ATHENS: Greece concluded their Euro 2012 preparations with a
straightforward 1-0 win over Armenia in Kufstein, Austria, on Thursday
in their final friendly before the tournament
Fernando Santos' side controlled proceedings from the kickoff and
went ahead in the first half through central defender Kyriakos
Papadopoulos' header.
Greece missed two penalties in the second half with Celtic striker
Giorgas Samaras and Panathinaikos midfielder Kostas Katsouranis
both seeing their efforts saved by the impressive Armenia keeper
Roman Berezovsky.
Santos gave a first start to 19-year-old midfielder Kostas Fortunis
in place of the rested Sotris Ninis, and the Kaiserslautern player
pressed his claim with a series of direct runs and intelligent passing.
As was the case with the 1-1 draw with Slovenia four days earlier,
Greece again showed promising glimpses of their attacking game in
patches while always remaining solid in defence.
Dimitris Sapigidis went close to opening the scoring for Greece in
the 10th minute with a downward header from captain Giorgos Karagounis
left-wing free-kick which bounced over the bar.
After an uneventful spell of play, Greece then took the lead in the
23rd minute when Schalke defender Papadopoulos rose unmarked to head
home a Karagounis free-kick which was lofted into the penalty area
by the Panathinaikos midfelder.
Striker Fanis Gekas then narrowly missed adding a second when he
was centimetres away from connecting with a Salpigidis cross on the
half hour mark before then seeing a shot cleared off the line by an
Armenian defender.
Berezovsky ensured the scoreline stayed at just 1-0 when he brilliantly
pushed a Karagounis long range strike round the post just before
halftime. - Reuters
Greece goalkeeper Michalis Sifakis was called into action for the
first time in the match when he made a fine low save from Gevorg
Ghazaryan's snap shot three minutes into the second half.
But it was Greece who should have added to the scoreline.
Substitute Samaras, who replaced Fortunis at halftime, won a penalty
19 minutes from fulltime after being fouled by Sargis Hovsepyan but
his poor side-footed effort was gathered comfortably by Berezovsky.
Substitute Giannis Fetfatzidis was then felled in the penalty area
by Artak Yedigaryan four minutes from time as he weaved his way
between defenders but again Berezovsky came to the rescue to save
from Katsouranis.
Greece face co-hosts Poland in the opening game of the championships
on June 8.
From: A. Papazian
Malaysia Star
http://football.thestar.com.my/2012/06/01/greece-defeat-armenia-in-final-euro-2012-warmup/
June 1 2012
Malaysia
ATHENS: Greece concluded their Euro 2012 preparations with a
straightforward 1-0 win over Armenia in Kufstein, Austria, on Thursday
in their final friendly before the tournament
Fernando Santos' side controlled proceedings from the kickoff and
went ahead in the first half through central defender Kyriakos
Papadopoulos' header.
Greece missed two penalties in the second half with Celtic striker
Giorgas Samaras and Panathinaikos midfielder Kostas Katsouranis
both seeing their efforts saved by the impressive Armenia keeper
Roman Berezovsky.
Santos gave a first start to 19-year-old midfielder Kostas Fortunis
in place of the rested Sotris Ninis, and the Kaiserslautern player
pressed his claim with a series of direct runs and intelligent passing.
As was the case with the 1-1 draw with Slovenia four days earlier,
Greece again showed promising glimpses of their attacking game in
patches while always remaining solid in defence.
Dimitris Sapigidis went close to opening the scoring for Greece in
the 10th minute with a downward header from captain Giorgos Karagounis
left-wing free-kick which bounced over the bar.
After an uneventful spell of play, Greece then took the lead in the
23rd minute when Schalke defender Papadopoulos rose unmarked to head
home a Karagounis free-kick which was lofted into the penalty area
by the Panathinaikos midfelder.
Striker Fanis Gekas then narrowly missed adding a second when he
was centimetres away from connecting with a Salpigidis cross on the
half hour mark before then seeing a shot cleared off the line by an
Armenian defender.
Berezovsky ensured the scoreline stayed at just 1-0 when he brilliantly
pushed a Karagounis long range strike round the post just before
halftime. - Reuters
Greece goalkeeper Michalis Sifakis was called into action for the
first time in the match when he made a fine low save from Gevorg
Ghazaryan's snap shot three minutes into the second half.
But it was Greece who should have added to the scoreline.
Substitute Samaras, who replaced Fortunis at halftime, won a penalty
19 minutes from fulltime after being fouled by Sargis Hovsepyan but
his poor side-footed effort was gathered comfortably by Berezovsky.
Substitute Giannis Fetfatzidis was then felled in the penalty area
by Artak Yedigaryan four minutes from time as he weaved his way
between defenders but again Berezovsky came to the rescue to save
from Katsouranis.
Greece face co-hosts Poland in the opening game of the championships
on June 8.
From: A. Papazian