Aris held by stubborn Atromitos
GREEK FOOTBALL CUP - QUARTER FINALS
Aris, who missed a second-half penalty, were held to a 0-0 draw by defiant Atromitos in the first leg of the Greek Cup quarter-finals.
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Competing with the initiative, Aris forced the issue against their determined visitors from Peristeri, but there was no way through. In the 64th minute, Bruno Gama missed a glorious opportunity to give Aris the advantage in the tie, as he smashed his penalty against the crossbar after Apostolos Vellios had been guilty of a foul inside the box.
Nevertheless, taking into account that no away goals were conceded, Aris will still be confident of progressing to the next round. The second leg will take place in Peristeri on February 13.
Aris, making a powerful start, had a great chance to open the scoring within 15 minutes. After a corner kindly fell at his feet, Nicolas Diguiny managed to beat Balazs Megyeri with his ensuing shot, but the ball was hacked off the line by a recovering defender.
Early in the second half, Aris thought that they should have been awarded a spot-kick when the ball was blocked by Alexandros Katranis, however a check by the video assistant referee confirmed that it struck his face instead of his hand.
However, not long later, Aris did earn their penalty as Vellios tripped Javier Matilla.
A penalty which was subsequently wasted by Gama.
During the remainder of the second half, Aris were largely kept at bay by a stout Atromitos side, who did threaten on the counter.
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