Cyprus no match for clinical Greece

Ten-man Greece secured their first UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying Group 1 victory at the second attempt, with Kostas Fortounis and substitute Apostolos Vellios on target in Cyprus.

Winger Charis Mavrias was a constant thorn in Cyprus's side at the Dasaki Stadium, and Georgios Georgiadis's side were able to secure a comfortable victory despite losing Petros Mantalos to a second yellow card with 19 minutes to go.

Mantalos and Giannis Skondras both had decent chances in the first half, the later drawing a decent double save from Kyriakos Ioannou in the Cyprus goal, and Savvas Paraskevas's Cyprus were left to rue an opportunity early in the second period, when Nestor Mytides's shot was charged down in the Greek area.

Fortounis punished that error with a goal direct from a free-kick on 58 minutes, and while Mantalos's dismissal unsettled the visitors, Cyprus could not press their advantage. Ioannis Hadjivasili fired one just off target and fellow substitute Andreas Pittaras skied another presentable opportunity, setting the stage for Vellios to crash home Greece's second of the night off the underside of the bar in added time.

Greece take on San Marino in their next game on 6 October, with Cyprus welcoming Belarus the day after.