Players made to regret their ‘holiday trip’ taunts as refugee side bring healthy lead back to Cyprus
CYPRIOT UEFA Cup representatives Anorthosis Famagusta enhanced their growing reputation in European football after claiming the scalp of the much fancied Romanian Cup holdes CFR 1907 Cluj.
Clinical finishing and iron-clad defending saw the refugee side beat their Romanian opponents 3-1 away and virtually guarantees their place in the third qualifying round of the competition with goals from Anton Zlogar, William Boaventura and new Polish signing Lukasz Sosin.
Anorthosis coach Timuri Ketsbaia could barely concealhis delight after the final whistle. “We played well, smart but most of all we showed our worthiness … today we showed on the pitch that there are no easy games for anyone, only difficult games. I believe that the second game at the Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium will be even more difficult,” said Ketsbaia.
Despite the healthy lead, the former Newcastle United and AEK Athens player remained cautious and yesterday warned his players that the tie is still no over.
“Of course we have a big lead but that doesn’t mean that the job is done. We will be aiming to finish the job in the return leg.”
Ketsbaia couldn’t resist the opportunity to mention how some of the Romanian players prior to the game had taunted Anorthosis, saying that they would be making a holiday of their trip to Cyprus for the return leg.
In the previous round they knocked out Macedonian Cup winners FK Vardar with impressive 1-0 wins home and away.
Anorthosis are no strangers to causing upsets in European football.
Although they may not have as many titles as Nicosia giants APOEL and Omonia,
Anorthosis certainly have a rich enough history in European competitions to make all Cypriots proud.
In the past, they have defeated teams like Atl?tico Bilbao and Lierse SK in UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds and also took Glasgow Rangers FC down to the wire in 1994.
In previous UEFA Cup competitions they have also knocked out Iraklis FC in the UEFA Cup.
But their biggest achievement came in 2005, when they dumped Turkish side Trabzonspor out of the Champions League second qualifying round.
Meanwhile Omonia will have it all to do in their return leg match in Bulgaria after failing to beat CSKA Sofia.
Brazilian striker Nei had given the visitors one of the fastest leads in UEFA Cup history when his lob from 30 metres beat Antonis Georgallides with just 18 seconds on the clock.
Omonia Captain Costakis Kaiafas equalised with an equally emphatic finish from long range 15 minutes later but he couldn’t lead his side to that elusive second goal despite chances going begging late from Guilherme Veisheimer and Ismael Ba.
CSKA were reduced to ten men on 65 minutes following the dismissal of Valentin Iliev.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Omonia’s Serbian coach Dragomir Okuka said his side was “still in with a shout” for the return leg in Bulgaria.
