“Cyprus break the deadlock through Leonidas Konomis, who converts from close range after a corner kick following a blocked shot from Marcus Edwards.”
Pivotal“Andronikos Kakoullis doubles Cyprus's lead with a precise left-footed finish into the top corner, assisted by Ioannis Pittas, after Loizos Loizou's earlier effort was blocked.”
Pivotal
Cyprus
Armenia
Outstanding performance
Cyprus•DefenderCyprus produced one of the most efficient defensive smash-and-grabs imaginable, scoring twice in a 12-minute window despite being completely overrun for the remaining 78 minutes. Leonidas Konomis opened the scoring from a corner in the 19th minute before Andronikos Kakoullis doubled the lead with a well-placed finish just past the half-hour mark, and from there Cyprus simply had to survive. The numbers tell the real story: Armenia finished with 68% possession, 17 shots to Cyprus's 8, and an eye-watering 90 dangerous attacks compared to Cyprus's 16, yet they could not find a way through, missing three big chances and failing to register a single goal despite 11 corners. Kostas Pileas's 52nd-minute red card for Cyprus made the closing stages even more nervy, but Armenia's profligacy in front of goal and Cyprus's defensive resilience held firm, handing the hosts a morale-boosting Nations League win that will matter far more for confidence than for the underlying performance data.
How entertaining was this match?
Narek Hovhannisyan's right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. He was assisted by Eduard Spertsyan.
Stavros Georgiou from Cyprus is awarded a free kick on the left wing.
Erik Piloyan commits a foul for Armenia.
The fourth official has indicated that there will be 6 minutes of added time.
Armenia is awarded a corner after Giorgos Malekkides concedes.
Attempt saved. Karen Nalbandyan's left-footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Fabiano Ribeiro de Freitas. The assist came from Davit Terteryan.
Substitution for Cyprus: Kostakis Artymatas comes on for Grigoris Kastanos.
Substitution for Cyprus: Stavros Georgiou comes on for Ioannis Pittas.
Foul committed by Davit Terteryan of Armenia.
Giorgos Malekkides from Cyprus is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Armenia is awarded a corner after Giorgos Malekkides concedes.
Armenia is awarded a corner after Panagiotis Andreou concedes.
Attempt missed. Karen Nalbandyan's right-footed shot from outside the box is close but goes to the left. Nayair Tiknizyan provided the assist.
Armenia wins a corner after Fabiano Ribeiro de Freitas concedes.
Karlen Hovhannisyan's right-footed shot from outside the box for Armenia is blocked.
Substitution for Armenia: Narek Hovhannisyan comes on for Gor Manvelyan.
Attempt blocked. Karen Nalbandyan's right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked, assisted by Karlen Hovhannisyan.
Armenia wins a corner after Leonidas Konomis concedes.
Narek Grigoryan from Armenia has a left-footed shot from the right side of the box, but it is blocked.
Armenia wins a corner after Leonidas Konomis concedes.
Attempt saved. Ioannis Pittas from Cyprus has a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it's saved in the bottom left corner by Arsen Beglaryan from Armenia. The assist came from Panagiotis Andreou.
Grigoris Kastanos from Cyprus is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Narek Grigoryan commits a foul for Armenia.
Substitution for Cyprus: Angelos Neophytou comes on for Marcus Edwards.
Substitution for Cyprus: Marinos Tzionis comes on for Loizos Loizou.
Grigoris Kastanos from Cyprus commits a foul.
Gor Manvelyan from Armenia is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Narek Grigoryan's left-footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Fabiano Ribeiro de Freitas.
Armenia wins a corner after Fabiano Ribeiro de Freitas concedes.
Attempt missed. Gor Manvelyan's header from the center of the box is too high. He was assisted by Eduard Spertsyan, who delivered a cross following a corner.
Substitution for Armenia: Karen Nalbandyan comes on for Artur Miranyan.
Substitution for Armenia: Ugochukwu Iwu comes on for Erik Simonyan.
Armenia wins a corner after Grigoris Kastanos concedes.
Narek Grigoryan from Armenia misses the attempt with a left-footed shot from the center of the box, sending it too high. The cross was assisted by Nayair Tiknizyan.
Gor Manvelyan wins a free kick for Armenia on the left wing.
Foul committed by Leonidas Konomis of Cyprus.
Armenia wins a corner after Nikolas Panagiotou concedes.
Nayair Tiknizyan is caught offside for Armenia.
Substitution for Cyprus: Giorgos Malekkides comes on for Andronikos Kakoullis.
Substitution for Armenia: Davit Terteryan comes on for Artem Bandikyan due to an injury.
Kostas PileasRed CardKostas Pileas from Cyprus receives a red card.
Kostas PileasVAR decision results in an upgraded card for Kostas Pileas of Cyprus.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Artem Bandikyan from Armenia.
Kostas Pileas commits a foul for Cyprus.
Artem Bandikyan from Armenia is awarded a free kick on the right wing.
The second half begins with Cyprus leading 2-0 against Armenia.
Substitution for Armenia: Narek Grigoryan comes on for Edgar Sevikyan.
Fourth official has announced 0 minutes of added time.
First half ends with Cyprus leading 2-0 against Armenia.
Attempt missed. Loizos Loizou from Cyprus takes a left-footed shot from the center of the box, but it goes to the left.
Attempt blocked. Loizos Loizou from Cyprus has a left-footed shot from the right side of the box that is blocked. He was assisted by Ioannis Pittas.
Marcus Edwards from Cyprus wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Artem Bandikyan commits a foul for Armenia.
Artem BandikyanYellow CardArtem Bandikyan from Armenia receives a yellow card for a foul.
Eduard Spertsyan's right-footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. He was assisted by Gor Manvelyan's cross.
Attempt saved. Eduard Spertsyan's left-footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Fabiano Ribeiro de Freitas.
Attempt blocked. Edgar Sevikyan's left-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked.
Corner awarded to Armenia after a concession by Nikolas Panagiotou.
Armenia is awarded a corner after Kostas Pileas concedes.
Eduard Spertsyan's right-footed shot from outside the box for Armenia is blocked.
Grigoris Kastanos commits a foul for Cyprus.
Artur Miranyan from Armenia is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
assist: Ioannis Pittas
Goal! Cyprus leads 2-0 against Armenia. Andronikos Kakoullis scores for Cyprus with a left-footed shot from the left side of the box into the top left corner, assisted by Ioannis Pittas.
Loizos Loizou's left-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. The attempt was assisted by Andronikos Kakoullis.
Kostas Pileas from Cyprus is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Artem Bandikyan commits a foul for Armenia.
Grigoris Kastanos from Cyprus is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Edgar Sevikyan of Armenia.
Edgar SevikyanYellow CardEdgar Sevikyan from Armenia receives a yellow card for a foul.
Andronikos Kakoullis from Cyprus is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Eduard Spertsyan commits a foul for Armenia.
Goal! Cyprus leads 1-0 against Armenia. Leonidas Konomis scores for Cyprus with a right-footed shot from very close range into the bottom left corner after a corner kick.
Attempt blocked. Marcus Edwards from Cyprus has a left-footed shot from the center of the box that is blocked. Loizos Loizou provided the assist.
Corner awarded to Cyprus after Erik Simonyan concedes.
Edgar Sevikyan from Armenia is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul committed by Panagiotis Andreou of Cyprus.
Attempt missed. Gor Manvelyan's left-footed shot from outside the box for Armenia goes high and wide to the left. Artem Bandikyan provided the assist.
Attempt missed. Erik Piloyan's right-footed shot from outside the box goes to the left. Eduard Spertsyan provided the assist.
Foul committed by Marcus Edwards (Cyprus).
Eduard Spertsyan from Armenia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Cyprus is called offside. Ioannis Pittas is the player caught offside.
Foul committed by Erik Piloyan of Armenia.
Marcus Edwards from Cyprus wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Nayair Tiknizyan commits a foul for Armenia.
Andronikos Kakoullis from Cyprus is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Nayair Tiknizyan commits a foul for Armenia.
Loizos Loizou from Cyprus wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Marcus Edwards from Cyprus has his left-footed shot from the left side of the box saved in the center of the goal by Arsen Beglaryan from Armenia.
First half begins.
Cyprus host Armenia in Nicosia aiming to end a winless start to League C, while Armenia look to bounce back from a late collapse against Montenegro. With both sides missing key personnel, this one could hinge on who settles first defensively.
