Polish pair show Anorthosis the way
Thursday, August 15, 2002
Article summary
Anorthosis Famagusta FC 3-0 CS Grevenmacher Wojciech Kowalczyk on song for Cypriots.
Article body
Anorthosis Famagusta FC 3-0 CS Grevenmacher
Polish players Mariusz Piekarski and Wojciech Kowalczyk were both on target as Anorthosis Famagusta FC put themselves well in charge of their UEFA Cup qualifying round tie with Luxembourg side CS Grevenmacher.
Penalty miss
The Cypriot team were well in control throughout and could even afford their first-half penalty miss. However they had a scare in the very first minute of the game when visiting centre-forward Ahmed El Aouad found himself with only goalkeeper Nicos Panagiotou to beat but put his chip over.
Swerving drive
It proved an expensive miss as the home team took control, Piekarski unleashing a swerving drive in the 20th minute after Stephan Kordian made a hash of his clearance.
Kowalczyk pounces
Anorthosis took a two-goal advantage into the interval when a Nicos Nicolaou free-kick rebounded off the bar and Kowalczyk headed in.
Easy save
The penalty miss had come in the 23rd minute when Christian Albrecht brought down Piekarski but Kowalczyk's tame attempt was easily saved by Jonathan Joubert.
Substitute scores
Substitute Ponicos Xiouroupas proved a surer touch from 12 yards when Dirk Klinge fouled Christos Velis with ten minutes remaining, his successful conversion sealing a comfortable victory.
Skied efforts
It should have been more – Kyriakos Chailis, another sub, wasting two good opportunities with skied efforts.
'Focused throughout'
Anorthosis captain Panagiotou said: "Our aim before the game was to win by three or four goals. We feel we achieved that not in the best fashion but we were focused throughout the game.
Confidence high
"We missed a lot of opportunities but luckily we scored three goals, something which will take us to Luxembourg with confidence. It is a game we also have to win so we can get the points that Cypriot football needs to move up the UEFA rankings."