Greece emerge victorious in Kosovo
UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE - LEAGUE C GROUP 3
Greece grabbed their first victory of the 2020/2021 UEFA Nations League campaign with a nervy 2-1 win against Kosovo away from home on Sunday evening.
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That winning feeling is back. On Thursday, Greece couldn’t break through against Slovenia in a 0-0 draw, but today the team did manage to tally the first win in the Nations League with a 2-1 triumph over Kosovo in Pristina. Greece, Kosovo, Moldova and Slovenia are all competing in Group 3 of League C in the competition.
With two rounds in the books, Greece and Slovenia lead the way with four points each, while Kosovo and Moldova are yet to get on the board. The Slovenians defeated the Moldovan national team 1-0 earlier in the day.
The next two Nations League games for Greece will take place against Moldova (October 11) and Kosovo (October 14) at home respectively.
THE MATCH
Greece didn’t hang around in Pristina as the score was opened in the second minute of play.
After receiving the ball when completely open on the right flank, Dimitris Limnios’ initial shot was well saved by the goalkeeper, but the PAOK winger made no mistake with the ensuing rebound as he lashed it into the net.
Encouraged by that goal, Greece appeared to calmly control the game in the opening stages, but the team had Vasilis Barkas to thank for protecting the score in the 11th minute.
Following a sloppy error, Barkas came to the rescue for the visitors, denying Arber Zeneli with an excellent save. The Celtic goalkeeper then collected a floating header moments later.
The Greeks promptly responded at the other end as Tasos Bakasetas’ low attempt was comfortably saved by the alert Samir Ujkani.
Unfortunately for John van ‘t Schip, he was forced to make a substitution with the first half approaching its climax, as captain Konstantinos Stafylidis departed the pitch with a shoulder injury. Bakasetas was handed the armband as the vice-captain.
Greece were consistently nervy at the back as Kosovo began to exploit the defensive frailties. In first-half stoppage time, Dimitris Giannoulis lashed a dangerous shot off target on the left flank, before Kosovo passed up a similar chance from an almost identical position. Barkas caught a weak header from Amir Rrahmani in the concluding play of the stanza.
Aiming to make an improvement in the second half, Greece went close to doubling the advantage within 120 seconds of the restart, as Bakasetas thumped a volley over the crossbar with Ujkani scrambling.
The visiting team did increase the lead to 2-0 in the 51st minute.
Escaping his marker inside the box, substitute defender Dimitris Siovas expertly collected Giannoulis’ searching pass, twisting to a shooting position and turning his effort beyond the goalkeeper.
Having secured the insurance goal, the away team firmly took their foot off the gas for the majority of the second frame, allowing Kosovo to hold possession in midfield without ever looking in serious danger.
Moreover, Greece were inches away from netting a third in the 71st minute of proceedings. When charging towards the penalty area, Dimitris Kourbelis could only head the ball wide of the left post, with the Kosovan defence having lost track of his run.
In truth, the game gradually seemed to be petering out, but Kosovo had a surprise up their sleeves with eight minutes remaining.
Emerging from his line to collect a cross, Barkas could only clumsily palm the ball towards the path of Valon Berisha, who carefully whipped it into the left corner.
Nevertheless, apart from one shot from distance which Barkas easily dealt with, Kosovo didn’t create any major chances to equalise as Greece saw the game out with tension.
THE TEAMS
Kosovo: Ujkani, Hadergjonaj, Aliti, Rrahmani, Vojvoda (Rashkaj 58’), Dresevic, V. Berisha, Halimi (Hasani 55’), Zeleni (B. Berisha 54’), Celina, Nuhiu.
Greece: Barkas, Giannoulis, Stafylidis (Siovas 40’), Svarnas, Bakakis, Zeca, Kourbelis, Fortounis (Masouras 61’), Limnios, Bakasetas, Koulouris (Mantalos 83’).
