Stalemate for Iraklis and Panserraikos in snowy Serres

By: Peter Katsiris | January 8th, 2009

It took three tries to kick off the New Year for Panserraikos and Iraklis as a snow-covered pitch at the Serres Stadium postponed the fixture on Sunday and then again on Monday. However, when both sides returned to the stadium on Wednesday both sides were able to play out the match, but there was no change in the score line after ninety minutes.

Panserraikos, who beat Iraklis on matchday one back in August, looked to be in a good position to collect its first home win of the season; however, it was Iraklis who had the first few chances of the match.

Michalis Konstantinou, who has been tipped to leave Iraklis this month for Cypriot club AC Omonia, failed to put the visitors ahead after just five minutes when he wastefully shot wide of Fotis Kipouros’ goal.

Argentine Miguel Garcia followed suit for Iraklis fourteen minutes later, as Kipouros’ goal remained unscathed yet again while the score remained untouched.

Panserraikos got its first taste of offense on twenty-three minutes when Mohammed Abubakari rounded two defenders to create an optimum scoring opportunity for the hosts. Unfortunately for the Liontara, the Ghanaian was rejected a whiff at goal as Iraklis defenders scrambled to dispossess the Feyenoord player.

Konstantinou then had a chance to make up for his earlier miss; however, the pressure toppled the Cypriot as he again sent his effort wide of the goal.

Continuing the trend, the Cyprus international was then first to meet a corner but despite being accurate with the shot, Kipouros had an easy time handling the effort.

Scoreless at the interval, a lack of accuracy which was compounded by strict defending from either side allowed for little room for change. Both offensive lines looked inferior to either defense, while goalkeepers continued to be left untested.

Hoping the New Year, and a fresh start in the second half could finally give Panserraikos not only a goal but their first home win, Hugo Broos’ side resumed play after the restart with an attacking spirit.

Though it took some time to crack the Iraklis defense, Panserraikos proved it could be accurate with its release. Abubakari provided a challenge for Waciej Kowalewski when the Ghanian fired a shot on fifty-six minutes, but the Polish keeper put aside any hopes for a goal when he reached to block the effort.

Denis Epstein, enjoyed a very successful December, and on sixty-seven minutes he looked to carry that stretch into the New Year. Unfortunately for the German, his effort didn’t pose a challenge for Kipouros but only for the ball boy behind the Panserraikos net.

As the second half carried on its way to expiring, the match’s pace had degraded from the first to a now congested encounter in the second half. Not a very physical encounter, the match had been plagued by many offensive breakdowns which left few opportunities for either side to snatch a goal.

A continuous lack of accuracy and precision eluded the match between two relegation candidates, as Iraklis was unable to gain revenge for a 2-1 loss they suffered against Panserraikos in Thessaloniki. For the latter, however, their guests did enough to extend the misery of the ‘Liontara’ who continued to post a winless home record.

Panserraikos 0-0 Iraklis FC
Yellow Cards:
Panserraikos – Zoundi 75′.
Iraklis FC – Epstein 39′.

Panserraikos (Hugo Broos): Kipouros, Kallimanis, Kali, Zoundi, Pipinis (46′ Moutavzic), Aurelio, Galanopoulos, Milenkovic, Konstantinidis, Aboubakari (79′ Digkozis), Baykara.

Iraklis FC (Makis Katsavakis): Kowalewski, Papazaxarias, Katsambis, Giannoulis, Epstein (90′ Ioannidis), Papasterianos, Foufoulas, Konstantinou, Sarakatsanos, Garcia, Giantsis (77′ Kone).

Referee: Nathaniel Charalambidis

Venue: Serres Stadium, Serres, Greece.