Our team suffered a 2-0 defeat in the final friendly match on Austrian soil against Polissya Zhytomyr. Just like in the friendly against Slavia, our team managed to keep the Ukrainians away from Vaná Alves’ goal for 38 minutes, when they opened the score with their first clear chance of the game. In the first minute of the second half, the opponents capitalized on a defensive error and made it 2-0.
Despite the efforts of our players, we were unable to score a goal (Montnor hit the post in the 52nd minute), and the score remained unchanged until the end.
In the 65th minute, during a challenge for the ball, Sarfo slipped and left the pitch with a groin issue. The extent of his injury will be assessed in the coming days.
Before the match started, a minute of silence was observed in memory of Marinos Mitellas who passed away few days ago, and our players wore black armbands in his honor.
Aris: Vana Alves, Balogun, Goldson, Loukoumbar, Correia, Sarfo(65’ Theocharous), Moussounda, Gomis(32’ Kokorin), Semedo(78’ Theodosiou), Gaustad(45’ Montnor), Kviliatia(61’ Effaghe).
In today’s friendly, Caju, Mayambela, Yago, Marhiev, Nikolić, and the newly signed Bourhane did not play, as they were not yet match fit. Most of them are likely to be available for next Thursday’s match.
With the friendly match against Polissya Zhytomyr, Aris concluded the main stage of their preparation in Austria, and after a month abroad, they are expected to return to Cyprus early Thursday afternoon.
Except for the players who are not match fit yet and will train again on Friday, the rest will return to training on Saturday, entering the final stretch of preparation for the match against Puskás Akadémia, which will take place on Thursday, July 24.
