Category Archives: SPORTS

Athens’ Game of the Eternal Enemies is one of the most fiercely contested derby matches in Europe.

One of the biggest derbies in European football is the clash between Greek giants Panathinaikos and Olympiacos. One is steeped in tradition, the other wealthy, dominant and champions the last five seasons running.

‘The Game of the Eternal Enemies’ has given rise to so much trouble, the fixture has long been played out before home fans only. In 2015, it even stopped the whole Greek league entirely, invasions and missile throwing by the Panathinaikos crowd at the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium causing the country’s sports minister to suspend all domestic football the following day. He soon went back on his rash pronouncement – and Olympiakos duly won that fifth league title on the bounce.

It’s more than 20 years since anyone from outside the big two has won the Greek championship.

Olympiacos have a fan base of blue-collar workers from the port of Piraeus while Panathinaikos are typified by the wealthier support of Ambelokipi in the comfortable north-west of Athens. Grainy black-and-white footage of the infamous cup semi-final between the two in 1964 shows Olympiacos fans literally break up the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium piece by piece. The game was abandoned during extra-time and the trophy awarded elsewhere. The away fan ban was imposed in 2004 after the equally notorious derby the year before, typified by showers of missiles being launched at the pitch for 90 minutes and beyond.

The aristocrats of Panathinaikos were formed by gentleman sportsman, Rear Admiral Giorgos Kalafatis in 1908. Winning the league at least once every decade, ‘PAO’ are the only Greek club to have made a major European final, in 1971.

A mini-revival in the 1990s saw PAO reach the last four of the Champions League, but they have since failed to break the long-term dominance of Olympiacos at home. For Panathinaikos, home is Ambelokipi in comfortable north-west of Athens – more specifically, modest Apostolos Nikolaidis stadium, along the main road Leof Alexandras, close to where Rear Admiral Kalafatis was born.

Panathinaikos enjoyed their first golden era in the 1960s. Under Stjepan Bobek, stars Mimis Domazos and Takis Loukanidis helped PAO win five titles in six years. Domazos, who made more than 500 appearances over 20 years, also played in the side spearheaded by prolific centre-forward Anton Antoniadis that won another three titles and lost to Ajax in the European Cup Final of 1971. That Wembley appearance was the finest achievement of Ferenc Puskás as a coach.

By the time they had moved into the newly built Olympic Stadium, PAO were picking up titles on a regular basis, helped by the riches of shipowning president Giorgios Vardinogiannis. PAO made two European Cup/Champions League semi-finals in just over a decade, the second thanks to the goals of Polish striker Krzysztof Warzycha.

By the time oil tycoon Yiannis Vardinogiannis, nephew of Giorgios took over in 2000, PAO were firmly second banana to Olympiacos.

Behind the scenes, a supporters’ group was trying to wrest control of the club from the Vardinogiannis clan, succeeding in the summer 2012 when the Panathinaikos Alliance gained over 50% of the shares with money raised from an internet campaign.

After a shaky start, these fans were able to celebrate winning the Greek Cup in 2014, a 4-1 win over PAOK at the Olympic Stadium, and runners-up spot in the league. Cup hat-trick hero, The Shamrocks hadn’t the strength in depth to stake a place in the subsequent group stage of the Champions League – but this is a club owned and run by its fans, in a Greek game ruled by the bulging wallets of shipping magnates.

On the ground

Site of the club shop, ticket office and fans’ bar, the Apostolos Nikolaidis has come back into use as the club’s home stadium, and PAO have vacated the Olympic Stadium. Plans for a new arena, however, have been put on ice.
After vacating the Olympic Stadium in 2013, PAO settled back in their spiritual home of the Apostolos Nikolaidis beside Ambelokipi metro station (blue line, three stops from central Syntagma). Its exterior decked in huge images from PAO’s history (note the wonderful shot of Puskás in front of his team), this traditional old ground, the first in Greece to have a stand, floodlights and an all-grass pitch, was the de facto national stadium until the arrival of the Olympiako.

Too tightly squeezed for expansion, the venerable homestead then proved too limited even for PAO, who joined the Greek national side up in Maroussi. After a €7 million upgrade in 2001, various attempts to rehouse PAO back in Ampelokipi proved fruitless, until the club had a change of ownership. After a €2 million renovation in 2013, the stadium was deemed worthy of a staging top-flight matches, its capacity 16,000.

source:worldsoccer.com

A delightful Gui Finkler brace has put Melbourne Victory back on top of the A-League.

On the evidence of their 2-1 win over Central Coast, Victory look like long-term occupants of the position.

Victory dismantled the Mariners with ease on Thursday night at AAMI Park despite missing marquee striker Besart Berisha.

Soreness was cited for the Albanian’s surprise omission but it mattered not for Victory, with Finkler stepping up ably in his absence.

A late consolation to Matt Sim gave the scoreline a flattering look but Central Coast was never in the contest.

The yellow-clad Mariners resembled butter as the A-League champions cut through their defence with ease.

Victory’s clinical opener came after a quarter of an hour.

Oliver Bozanic’s delightful backheel released Finkler, who burst through the centre-backs to roll his shot past Paul Izzo.

Three minutes later Finkler netted a trademark free kick for his second.

The Brazilian unleashed his set piece, earned after Daniel Georgievski was brought down on the edge of the box, into a conspicuously large gap at Izzo’s near post.

Finkler’s double repeated his effort from March this year, when he scored twice to defeat the Mariners on the way to their drought-breaking championship.

On Thursday night, his goals led Victory to their sixth-straight win over Central Coast, worsening the Mariners’ rotten start to the season.

Sim’s 89th minute header continued the Mariners’ record of scoring in every match but Tony Walmsley’s side are slumped at the wrong end of the table.

Without Berisha, Kevin Muscat handed teenage talent George Howard his full debut, but the striker was left in the wake of Victory’s other attacking talent.

Kosta Barbarouses was busy and Oliver Bozanic gave Victory their structure but it was Finkler who shined.

In front of 16,669 at AAMI Park, Victory ensured there was no chance of an injury-time equaliser.

Kevin Muscat’s side edge out Brisbane Roar to sit on top of the table on goal difference, with the Roar to play Melbourne City on Friday night.

source:abc.net.au

Luis Suarez doesn’t believe Real Madrid will target Lionel Messi in Saturday’s Clasico, if the Barcelona forward is fit to take part.
Messi hasn’t played since a late September knee injury against Las Palmas but is back in training and reports from Spain say he’ll be involved to some degree.

“Whether he plays or not is his and the Coach’s decision. The feelings are good but we have to wait,” AS reports Suarez saying at a Wednesday Press conference.

“Leo is above the rest and Neymar is behind him as the second best. It’s enjoyable to have them around and I’m proud of my teammates. Messi can change anything at any time.

“We knew we wouldn’t be able to count on him for a few weeks and with Madrid’s defeat at Sevilla we took advantage [to go top]. We’ve done well without Messi.

“Messi needs to tell me how to play this kind of game. I’m in different form from last year and I’m certain I can do well.

“I’m fine, happy and in good shape. I’m eager to get the win, of course. You always want to go home with the victory.”

Suarez was asked if Sergio Ramos’ shoulder injury is something he’d look to exploit, and if the six-point gap that would arise if Barca won would be decisive for the title.

“I won’t go for Sergio’s shoulder in the same way they won’t go after Messi’s knee,” he confirmed.

“But if Ramos does have a pain-killing injection, I’ll push him hard.

“The League isn’t decided by leading Madrid by six points in November. There’s too much of the championship to go to think it’s finished. And there is Atleti, who will eventually fight for the League.

“Favourites? You never know what can happen and the opposite can happen when you’re favourites. You have to concentrate, to the utmost, to aspire to the victory. The Bernabeu is always imposing.

“Playing there is always special, for the importance. I’ve got good memories of my debut there, in the Barca shirt, but bad for the result.”

Read the original article on Football Espana – The ultimate website for English-speaking fans of Spanish football

source:aurosport.com

Just like in Hungary and Romania in recent months, Greece snatched a goalless draw from Turkey in Istanbul on Tuesday, just by having a solid defense and without posing any real threat in attack. Still, that friendly draw could serve to start building the team that new Greece coach Michael Skibbe will have in mind.

In a game that was more… friendly than expected – and with both teams wearing black armbands in memory of the victims in Paris last week – Greece gave priority to its defense, so in that sense the test in Turkey should be seen as a success.

Skibbe opted for three men at the center of the defense and a 5-3-1-1 formation, with Costas Fortounis supposed to feed lone striker Costas Mitroglou. However the Benfica striker was all but isolated up front and created little in the Greek attack.

On the other hand the Greek back line and keeper Orestis Karnezis performed well and prevented another away loss, four days after the 1-0 humiliation at Luxembourg.

The match was attended by the Greek and Turkish prime ministers, Alexis Tsipras and Ahmet Davutoglu, each wearing his national team’s scarf.

source:ekathimerini.com

The Tim Cahill show has travelled to Bangladesh, with the Socceroos talisman netting a first-half hat-trick in Australia’s 4-0 World Cup qualifier win in Dhaka.

Cahill scored three times inside 37 minutes, while skipper Mile Jedinak also struck on Tuesday night to send Australia to the top of their qualifying group ahead of main rivals Jordan.

Jordan lost 1-0 to Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek early on Wednesday (AEDT).
The group table now has Australia on 15 points from six games, with Jordan on 13 points from six games, while Kyrgyzstan – which has played one game more – is on 11 points.

It was all one-way traffic in favour of the Australians, who easily controlled possession despite struggling to move the ball around freely on the long-grassed surface.

At times, Ange Postecoglou’s team were sloppy against their lower-ranked opponents — an off touch here, a wayward ball there.

“We came here to win the game. It was difficult conditions for us tonight,” Australia coach Postecoglou said after the match.

“In the first half it was good but the second half we were a little scrappy. In the end I was happy with the performance with the players, three points for us and with it we go home.”

Aaron Mooy shone bright as usual with a hand in every goal, and whenever he found space — and there was acres of it — the aerial threat of Cahill was waiting.
There was not a Bangladeshi defender in sight for the former Everton man’s first when he nodded in a deep free-kick from Mooy on six minutes.

It was nearly half an hour later before the Melbourne City star also set up the second with a through ball to debutant Josh Risdon, the in-form Perth Glory defender crossing for Cahill to volley home.

Five minutes later, Australia’s all-time leading goal scorer added another to his total by adding the finishing touch to a cross from Mooy, who had latched onto a sublime through ball from the recalled Matt McKay.

Crystal Palace midfielder Jedinak got in on the action anyway just before the interval with a textbook header from close range after Bailey Wright headed across the box.

If the first half was a raging goal fest, the break gave way to tedium.
Postecoglou replaced James Meredith with Jason Davidson and brought on Tommy Oar and James Troisi for Mooy and Massimo Luongo.

The crowd perked up briefly as the home side made a couple of inoffensive swoops forward, while Jedinak went close again 10 minutes from time.
But his tremendous overhead kick was parried to safety by Bangladesh keeper Sahidul Alam.

Source:abc.net.au

Στο Μπαγκλαντές βρίσκεται η αποστολή της Εθνικής Αυστραλίας όπου απόψε θα αντιμετωπίσει την εθνική της χώρας σε αγώνα της προκριματικής φάσης για το Μουντιάλ της Ρωσίας 2018.

Μετά τους Λέκι, Ράιαν, στην διάθεση του Άγγελου Ποστέκογλου δεν θα βρίσκονται και οι τραυματίες Ρόγκιτς και Γιούριτς.

Εν τω μεταξύ στην ντόπια ποδοσφαιρική κίνηση είναι γεγονός, “επίσημο” και δεν χωράει αμφισβήτηση….

Η Βίκτορι δεν παίζεται με τίποτα!

Και δεν χάνει με τίποτα…

Το Σάββατο και αφού πέρασε από “40 κύματα”, κατάφερε να κερδίσει με 4-2 την γηπεδούχο Σίδνεϊ Φ.Κ., που ήταν καλύτερη στο μεγαλύτερο διάστημα του αγώνα και αν όχι, το τρίποντο, δικαιούνταν τουλάχιστον το “Χ” της ισοπαλίας.

Με σύμμαχο -εκτός από την τύχη- και τον ρέφερι Κρις Μπιθ, η ομάδα της Μελβούρνης, πήρε μεγάλη νίκη στο συγκλονιστικό ντέρμπι του Σαββάτου και τώρα, με έναν αγώνα λιγότερο, φλερτάρει με την πρώτη θέση της βαθμολογίας.

Πάμε τώρα στις περί τύχης και ρέφερι “λεπτομέρειες”:

– Δύο φορές μετά από ασφυκτική πίεση και σε χρόνο δευτερολέπτων, τα κάθετα δοκάρια (δεξί και αριστερό) απέκρουσαν αντίστοιχα σουτ για λογαριασμό του Ντάνι Βούκοβιτς!

– Ο Κρις Μπιθ:

α) Δεν είδε πέναλτι στο βίαιο μαρκάρισμα του Μάθιου Ντελπιέρ, πάνω στον Σέιν Σμελτζ, την ώρα που ο τελευταίος ετοιμαζόταν να σουτάρει για γκολ από πολύ κοντά.

β.) Άφησε ατιμώρητο τον Ρασίντ Μαχάζι για την αγκωνιά του στον Φίλιπ Χολόσκο, που αιμόφυρτος μεταφέρθηκε εκτός αγωνιστικού χώρου με φορείο για να αντικατασταθεί στη συνέχεια.

γ. Άφησε ατιμώρητο τον Μπεσάρτ Μπερίσα για επικίνδυνο φάουλ σε αντίπαλο!

Αυτά περί τύχης και του μέτριου ρέφερι.

Κατά τα άλλα, το ντέρμπι του Σαββάτου στο βροχερό Σίδνεϊ, ήταν ένα από τα καλύτερα που έχουμε δει στην ιστορία του νέου εθνικού λιγκ.

Πάθος, αγωνιστικότητα, φάουλ και έξι γκολ που θα πρέπει να αποζημίωσαν τους ουδέτερους θεατές, αλλά και τους φίλους της Βίκτορι.

Μόνον αυτούς, γιατί η πλειοψηφία των 15.947 θεατών, έχουν κάθε λόγο να είναι απογοητευμένοι, αφού οι “ουρανί” άξιζαν κάτι καλύτερο. Ακόμη και την νίκη, όπως αναφέρω πιο πάνω.

Η ομάδα του Άρνολντ προηγήθηκε στο 5′ κιόλας λεπτό με κοντινό πλασέ του Χολόσκο μετά από εξαιρετική σέντρα του νεαρού πλάγιου αμυντικού Άλεξ Γκερμπάς, που ήταν από τους κορυφαίους του αγώνα.

Στο 9′ με βολέ από το ύψος της μεγάλης περιοχής, ο Μπερίσα πιάνει στον…ύπνο τον αντίπαλο πορτιέρο για το 1-1.

Ο αρχηγός των γηπεδούχων Άλεξ Μπροσκ, ξαναβάζει την ομάδα του μπροστά στο σκορ στο 20′ (2-1), αλλά η πρωταθλήτρια και κυπελλούχος Βίκτορι, δεν πτοείται.

Έχει δυνάμεις, έχει πείσμα και βρίσκει δίχτυα στο 28′, με πλάγιο σουτ του Φίνκλερ και αδυναμία του αντίπαλου πορτιέρο να αποκρούσει στην κλειστή του γωνία.

Με δίκαια ισοπαλία πάνε στα αποδυτήρια οι παίκτες των δύο ομάδων, με τον Μάσκατ να κάνει τα… “μαγικά” του στην επανάληψη.

Βγάζει τον κεντρικό αμυντικό Ντενγκ, με εσωτερική αλλαγή την θέση του παίρνει ο Μπρόξαμ και μπροστά επανέρχεται ο Κώστας Μπαρμπαρούσης, που ξεκουραζόταν μετά το μακρύ ταξίδι επιστροφής από υποχρεώσεις της εθνικής Νέας Ζηλανδίας (δεν αγωνίστηκε).

Η παρουσία του πιο φορμαρισμένου επιθετικού του λιγκ, ξαφνιάζει τη αντίπαλη άμυνα που με τη σειρά της προσπαθεί να ανασυγκροτηθεί. Δεν τα καταφέρνει όμως γιατί στο 68′ η μπάλα από καραμπόλα και τύχη, καταλήγει στα πόδια του Ελληνονεοζηλανδού, που δεν δυσκολεύεται να βρει δίχτυα για το 2-3.

Ένα λεπτό αργότερα ο Άρνολντ ρίχνει στη “μάχη” τον Ματ Σάιμον, οι “ουρανί” πιέζουν ασφυκτικά για το 3-3, αλλά δεν υπολογίζουν μια “θανατηφόρα” συνήθεια της Βίκτορι.

Τις αντεπιθέσεις της…

Σε μια από αυτές, γύρω στο 90+2′, ο Μπερίσα φεύγει από πλάγια και πλασάρει εύστοχα τον Τζανζέκοβιτς που ολοκλήρωσε μια πολύ μέτρια απόδοση.

Σκορ ασφαλείας για την ομάδα της Μελβούρνης το 2-4, με τον ρέφερι να σφυρίζει σε λίγα δευτερόλεπτα την λήξη, ενός αγώνα που ήταν από τους καλύτερους που έχουμε δει μέχρι σήμερα.

Το αποτέλεσμα είναι άδικο…

Αλλά ισχυρίστηκε ποτέ κανείς ότι η “στρόγγυλη θεά” είναι δίκαια;.

*ΠΕΡΙΠΑΤΟ έκανε το Δυτικό Σίδνεϊ και με σκορ 3-0 υπέταξε την Μέλμπουρν Σίτι στο ΑΑΜΙ Παρκ.

*ΛΙΓΟ η ανυπαρξία της Αδελαΐδας, λίγο η καλή ημέρα του Φοίνικα και οι “κόκκινοι” επέστρεψαν στην έδρα τους με την βαριά ήττα του 4-2 στις αποσκευές τους.

*ΙΣΟΠΑΛΟ 1-1 έληξε το γειτονικό ντέρμπι ανάμεσα στο Νιούκαστλ και τους Μάρινερς.

Πηγή:Νέος Κόσμος

Bill Rorke holds his framed Socceroos cap presented to him for playing in the 1965 World Cup qualifier. Picture: Simone De Peak

BILL Rorke was Australia’s youngest player and one of three Hunter products in the national squad when the Socceroos took their first shot at World Cup football in 1965.

Against an unknown North Korean side, an under-prepared Australian line-up lost 6-1 and 3-1 in the heat of Cambodia to fall at the first hurdle.

It was a tough initiation to World Cup football and a campaign that has gone largely unheralded.

But it was the first, and Rorke is pleased he and his teammates will be recognised on Monday by Football Federation Australia in Sydney.
The 50th anniversary of Australia’s first qualification campaign will be celebrated at day and night functions, which will include inducting two people into the FFA Hall of Fame and remembering the Socceroos’ famous win 10 years ago over Uruguay to make the World Cup finals.

Rorke said recognition of the 1965 squad was long overdue and he was looking forward to catching up with fellow Aberdare Rangers junior John Roberts and Novocastrian Ron Giles, who were also part of the tour.

‘‘At long last they are acknowledging that we in fact were the pioneers of World Cup football,’’ Rorke said. ‘‘It really hasn’t been acknowledged. Prior to this, the ’74 World Cup team was supposed to have started it all, but it didn’t.

‘‘This was the pioneer group.’’

At just 20, Rorke was in goals for the second loss to North Korea, while Roberts was keeper in the first defeat.

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Giles did not play in the qualifiers but took part in following tour games against Hong Kong, Malaysia, Cambodia and Taiwan.

Rorke, who lives in Toronto, said the maiden qualification campaign was a tough first lesson for Australian football but one he was proud to be part of.

‘‘We were lucky enough to start it and be the first to go and do it,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s got to start somewhere.

‘‘The biggest sport in the world and Australia just simply must be a part of it, and the rest is history. We’re doing very well these days, and it’s great to see. Let’s just hope the boys get the job done in Bangladesh on Tuesday.’’

Rorke said he had not seen some of his 1965 teammates since that tour, which started with a three-week training camp in Cairns.

‘‘We knew nothing about the North Koreans and we thought they’d be a pushover, so we just went to Cairns and trained,’’ he said.

‘‘We had no lead-up games and we landed in Cambodia and got thrashed.

‘‘In defence of us, we knew nothing about them, but they’d been together for two or three years full-time, and played all over Europe, mainly in Russia.’’

North Korea went to the World Cup finals in 1966 and reached the quarter-finals after defeating Italy 1-0 and drawing with Chile. They led Portugal 3-0 in the quarters but lost 5-3 after the great Eusébio scored four goals.

After the losses to North Korea, Rorke was in goal for a 0-0 draw with Cambodia, 1-0 loss to Hong Kong, 3-1 win over Taiwan and 1-0 and 3-0 victories over Malaysia.

Four years later, he was back-up keeper to Ron Corry for Australia at World Cup qualifiers.

Rorke, who grew up in Kearsley, lived in Sydney for most of his life but moved to Toronto six years ago.

In his senior playing days, he had one season of all-age with Kearsley before rising to prominence with Bankstown. He played at APIA Leichhardt and Marconi after making his international debut.

source:theherald.com.au

NEWCASTLE football legend Ray Baartz is still haunted by the ‘‘karate chop’’ that prevented the former Socceroos vice captain from realising his World Cup dream.

Baartz was felled with a blow to the throat by Uruguay’s Luis Garisto in an international friendly at the Sydney Cricket Ground before leaving for the 1974 World Cup in West Germany – Australia’s debut.

The cheap shot in back play ended the career of the attacking midfielder, regarded by many as a once-in-a-generation player.

Baartz’s story, which has become a part of Australian football folklore, features in a new sports documentary, November 16.

The hour-long feature celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Socceroos’ penalty shoot-out victory over Uruguay in 2005 that earned qualification for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, ending a 32-year drought.

The film also looks at the history of Australia and Uruguay, in particular the attack on Baartz.

‘‘They have come up with some footage from that game I haven’t seen,’’ Baartz said. ‘‘I tried for years to get footage and never could get anything. It’s nice that they have linked the present to the past.

‘‘The game is finally starting to build a bit of tradition. ‘‘That is one area where the game has been lacking compared to other codes.

‘‘You have to respect the people who have been there and done that.

‘‘Like most sports, past players didn’t get the monetary rewards that they do now, but they laid the foundations, which is very important.’’

November 16 is a film by Ben Coonan, FFA’s videographer since 2012, in collaboration with Fox Sports presenter Richard Bayliss, and has been produced with the support of Football Federation Australia (FFA) and broadcast partners Fox Sports and SBS.

The film features never-seen-before content from the magical night at Stadium Australia in 2005 when John Aloisi famously scored from the penalty spot to send the Socceroos to the World Cup, as well as rare archive footage dating back to Australia’s first successful FIFA World Cup qualification in 1973.

Baartz and many of the 1974 Socceroos were in the stands at Stadium Australia that night 10 years ago.

‘‘SBS were doing a documentary on the ’74 side at the time and got us all together,’’ Baartz said. ‘‘It was good to be there and be with the team to celebrate the win.’’

Baartz was interviewed at his Charlestown home for the new film and said the process had rekindled memories of the karate chop that nearly ended his life.

After receiving treatment for several minutes, Baartz continued playing despite a headache and went on to score a goal, set up another and steer Australia to a 2-0 triumph.

Next morning he couldn’t move his left arm or leg and was rushed to hospital.

The blow had struck the carotid artery so hard that it had swelled and partially closed, reducing the blood flow to the brain. For several hours his life hung in the balance. His football career was over at age 27.

‘‘It was touch and go for a few days and it took me a good couple of years to get over it,’’ Baartz said. ‘‘Playing again wasn’t an option.

‘‘It really hit home when I was in Germany with the team but couldn’t go on the park. Not playing at the World Cup still haunts me.

‘‘It was a bitter disappointment.’’

Although devastated at being unable to compete at the World Cup, Baartz appreciates the situation could have been worse.

‘‘It brought home how severe the injury could have been when Phil Hughes was killed,’’ Baartz said. ‘‘I actually rang Brian Corrigan, who was the doctor for the team at the time and also was doctor for the Australian cricket team.

‘‘He told me he had thought of me straight away. We both got hit in the same spot, but Phil Hughes’ artery burst and mine swelled.’’

November 16 will be broadcast on Fox Sports on Monday at 9pm, followed by a broadcast on SBS on November 18 at 11pm.

source:theherald.com.au

One hour’s decent play was not enough for Greece to score or get a result at Luxembourg, going down to the minnows of central Europe with a 1-0 score in the friendly that marked the beginning of Michael Skibbe’s time on the Greek bench on Friday night.

Greece had two men up front in the first half (4-4-2), with both Costas Mitrogou and Nikos Karelis missing several chances to open the score. Mitroglou actually struck the woodwork after just two minutes played and Karelis saw his best effort go just wide.

In the second half Skibbe reverted to a 4-2-3-1 formation with Mitroglou alone up front and replaced Dimitris Pelkas with Alexandros Tziolis, making the Greek midfield considerably slower.

After the hour mark the performance of the Greeks began to flag and the hosts, who had also missed a couple of good chances in the first half started asking questions at Greece keeper Stefanos Kapino before eventually scoring right at the end.

Olympiakos defender Dimitris Siovas had a clash with Kapino that forced him to get substituted, and Luxembourg took advantage of his absence from the 78th minute to score with Burton Albion’s Aurelien Joachim on the first minute of time added on.

No doubt Skibbe has got plenty of work to do, ahead of the World Cup qualifiers that start next year. On Tuesday Greece travels to Turkey for another friendly.

ANOTHER F3 derby, another gut-wrenching result for the Newcastle Jets.

This time a 10-man Mariners came back from the dead to snatch a 1-all draw at Hunter Stadium on Saturday night.

Milos Trifunovic looked like he had sealed the Jets’ first win over their arch rivals since October 2012 when he glanced a header into the right corner with seven minutes remaining.

But the Mariners, who were gallant throughout, found a way back.

Unheralded midfielder Matt Sim was the hero, hitting a low angled shot into the right corner in injury time after the Jets had failed to clear a freekick.

The point was no less than the visitors deserved.

They played the final 65 minutes a man down after defender Jake McGing was given a straight red for a crude challenge on Jets midfielder Leonardo.

The Brazilian was stretchered off and without him the home side struggled to unlock a resolute Mariners defence.

The Jets dominated possession but the Mariners had the better of the chances.

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Mariners coach Tony Walmsley stayed true to his promise to attack and deployed a front four.

The tactic should have reaped a goal inside two minutes after the Jets failed to clear a ball in the box.

It fell for Daniel Heffernan on the edge of the six yard box, but with Mark Birighitti stranded the striker almost had an air swing and the volley screwed wide.

The opening 25 minutes wasn’t typical of a derby.

It was open, end to end and littered with chances, most created by the visitors.

At the other end Trifunovic thought he had earned a penalty in the 14th minute when one-on-one with Paul Izzo. The runaway striker knocked the ball past the keeper and as he set off in pursuit the pair collided.

Referee Kris Griffiths-Jones waved play on.

Six minutes later, the Mariners thought they had won a penalty when Mateo Poljak brought Mitch Austin down, however this Griffiths-Jones ruled that the foul was outside the box.

Both calls were contentious.

There was no doubt about the red card handed to Jake McGing in the 25th minute for a late studs-up challenge on Leonardo.

The Brazilian immediately clutched at his ankle, before being carried off on a stretcher and taken straight up the tunnel to the dressing rooms.

The injury forced a reshuffle with Radovan Pavicevic introduced on the right wing and David Carney shifted into the No.10 role.

The Jets finished the half the stronger but lacked a killer blow.

Trifunovic scooped a shot wide and Cameron Watson blazed over the bar from 15 metres.

Walsmsley made an adjustment at half-time but didn’t take his foot off the accelerator, bringing on winger Josh Bingham for Heffernan.

Despite dominating possession, break down a resolute Mariners defence.

It was almost as though the harder the Jets tried the worse they went.

Then with time nearly up, the Jets won a corner. David Carney delivered to the near post and Trifunovic glanced a header into the far corner to take his tally to four in six games.

source:theherald.com.au