GREECE put in a trademark defensive display to deny Spain victory in the opening day of World Cup qualifying in Granada.
The Greeks restricted their hosts to just two shots on targets, despite the Spaniards having 80 per cent possession.
Alvaro Morata opened the scoring for Spain before a penalty from Anastasios Bakasetas earned a share of the spoils for the visitors.
THAT’S ALL FROM GRANADA
Greece picked up a 1-1 draw against Spain, which marked an important away point on their 200th anniversary since the historic Revolution that led to their independence.
The Roja dominated a staggering 80 per cent of possession throughout the encounter but failed to create much substance down the visitors’ third.
Luis Enrique’s men almost opened the scoring on 32 minutes with Dani Olmo’s powerful curling shot that rattled Odysseas Vlachodimos’ post.
But just a minute later Koke played Alvaro Morata through the Ethniki’s defence and the Juvetnus star chested the ball down perfectly before beating Vlachodimos with a superb finish.
But Greece came back strong at the second half as they added pace to their attack following the introduction of PAOK star Christos Tzolis.
Disaster struck for Spain after 56 minutes when Inigo Martinez clashed with Giorgos Masouras inside the box and the referee awarded a penalty fore the visitors.
Tasos Bakasetas converted the spot-kick and beat Unai Simon to give his country an important away point, that occurred thanks to only one shot throughout the entire match.
Spain couldn’t respond even though they had full control of the match and never looked likely to regain the lead
GETTY IMAGES GETTY IMAGES ZECA REACTS
Greece ace Carlos Zeca admits spirits are high among the visitors’ camp but insists they haven’t won anything yet.
Zeca said: “It is a very good result for us. We are happy. We got a point against one of the best teams in the world.
“However, we have another game. We have not won anything, it is a great result, but we have a long way to go.
“We came to win. We know it’s hard to win here, but we believed it. They created problems in the game, especially in the first half. There we thought that 0-0 is good. We worked for that.
“After 1-0, we managed to equalise and then we gave everything to protect the scoreline”
GETTY IMAGES MORATA REACTS
Spain star Alvaro Morata claims the hosts “knew” how Greece would play and hinted there may be some more shockers down the road unless they improve.
Morata said: “We knew the game that they would raise.
“Any team that knows how to defend well puts you in trouble, [we have] to get positive things to evolve.
“You have to keep working, it’s not going to be the first or the last like that”
GETTY IMAGES
GROUP B TABLE
Greece are now second in Group B after their impressive draw with Spain, who start off in third place, in Granada.
Sweden top the table thanks to their 1-0 victory against Georgia at home.
Janne Andersson’s side won thanks to Krasnodar ace Viktor Claesson’s winner.
If Greece keep it up then Sweden and Spain could be in for a tough campaign in their bid to qualify for the World Cup
SCHIP ON HIS SHOULDER
Greece manager John van’t Schip picked up his most impressive result with the Ethniki ever since replacing Angelos Anastasiadis in July 2019.
In fact, the visitors have won seven out of 15 matches under Van’t Schip and only lost three.
Greece are now enjoying a six-match undefeated run, which has seen them winning three games in the process.
The Euro 2004 champions haven’t lost since October 7 when Austria beat them 2-1
GETTY IMAGES STATS
Spain have a lot to ponder on there as they failed to win a match in which they controlled 80.2 per cent of possession.
The hosts produced a total of nine shots, two of which were on target.
Greece, on the other hand, only got one shot throughout the entire match, and it so happened to also be their sole shot on target.
The Roja dominated the passing (92.1 per cent) as well as tackling (58.3 per cent) charts and bested Greece in the air (52.6 per cent) as well but still couldn’t get the three points
FT: SPAIN 1-1 GREECE
Spain have been frustrated by Greece in the first World Cup qualifier.
The Roja dominated the first half as they controlled 80 per cent of possession and came close to an opener on 32 minutes when Dani Olmo’s powerful curling shot rattled Odysseas Vlachodimos’ crossbar.
But just a minute later Koke played Alvaro Morata through with a clever chip and the Juventus star cheastted the ball down perfectly before finishing off with a crisp shot past Vlachodimos.
Greece started strong in the second half with the addition of Christos Tzolis and Manolis Siopis and got the equaliser on 56 minutes when Inigo Martinez brought Giorgos Masouras down in the penalty area.
Tasos Bakasetas took the shot and beat Unai Simon with ease to give Greece a valuable point away against Spain
GETTY IMAGES PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
AND THAT’S FULL-TIME IN GRANADA!!!!!!!
SPAIN 1-1 GREECE
90+5 Five added minutes have been played following a short injury break by Tzavellas.
Spain are pushing hard but can’t get the final ball through
SPAIN 1-1 GREECE
90+2 CHANCE
Morata tries to play on Llorente with a through ball down the right flank but the pass is too heavy.
The Spain star was found offside anyway…
SPAIN 1-1 GREECE
90 Four added minutes to go in Granada.
Spain are pushing forward hard as they are desperate for a late winner.
Greece continue to hold
SPAIN 1-1 GREECE
90 Thiago tries a cheeky floating shot from the edges of the box but Vlachodimos picks it up with ease.
The Greece goalkeeper was a bit off position there and gave the visitors a few scares…
SPAIN 1-1 GREECE
88 We are close to full-time and Spain are struggling to produce anything substantial despite their full control of possession.
Greece are trying to close spaces behind and push the Spaniards to the wings.
So far so good for the visitors
SPAIN 1-1 GREECE
85 Gaya goes down inside Greece’s box following a challenge with Bakakis but there doesn’t seem to be much there.
Spain aren’t really protesting anyway…
SPAIN 1-1 GREECE
83 YELLOW CARD
Gaikoumakis becomes only the second player to be booked after a heavy foul on Garcia, it seems
SPAIN 1-1 GREECE
81 YELLOW CARD
Zeca gets booked after he wrestles Oyarzabal to the ground
SPAIN 1-1 GREECE
80 SUBSTITUTION
Greece make another change as Kyriakopoulos replaces Tsimikas, who apparently picked up a knock earlier
SPAIN 1-1 GREECE
78 SUBSTITUTION
Bakasetas comes off and is replaced by the most in-form Greek striker Giakoumakis.
Tzavellas takes the armband for the final few minutes
SPAIN 1-1 GREECE
76 We forgot to mention that Oyarzabal came on for Spain as he replaced Torres.
The forward came on at the same time as Thiago
SPAIN 1-1 GREECE
76 CHANCE!
Oyarzabal picks up a through pass from Gaya down the left flank and passes through but barely misses Morata.
Spain are pushing for a late winner!
SPAIN 1-1 GREECE
75 Spain are getting frustrated as shown just now when Tzolis picked up the ball while on the ground thinking he was fouled.
Greece are desperate to hold but are still not showing enough
SPAIN 1-1 GREECE
73 What does Morata have in common with Silva, Villa and Torres?
More info below:
SPAIN 1-1 GREECE
72 SUBSTITUTION
Spain boss brings Koke out and replaces him with Liverpool star Thiago.
The incoming midfielder also gets the armband and becomes the third player to captaint he Roja tonight
SPAIN 1-1 GREECE
70 CHANCE!
Torres produces a lovely cross off the right flank and finds Morata whose header lacks power and bounces straight to Vlachodimos’ arms
SPAIN 1-1 GREECE
70 Spain have been rather slow throughout the game, despite their dominance in the first half.
They are now finding it harder to find the final ball and combine their midfield with the likes of Gil, Morata and Torres
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
