Greece avert Albanian upset

By Vassiliki Papantonopoulou

Greece remain in contention for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-offs in Group 2 after a crucial win against Albania - despite having to play the last four minutes with ten men.

Matzios opener
Captain Evagelos Mantzios gave Greece the lead in the 19th-minute from close range despite the efforts of Albania goalkeeper Ervin Llani. Albania could have levelled on 65 minutes as Hamdi Salihi sneaked in behind the Greek defence but failed to find the target.

Points safe
That miss proved crucial ten minutes later as Georgios Samaras crossed from the left for substitute Charis Pappas to control on his chest with his back to goal, turn and shoot past Llani. A professional foul on Salihi saw Greece defender Grigorios Papazacharias dismissed late on, but his side triumphed and with Turkey's win in Georgia today, remain within three points of second place. Both these teams return to action on 3 June, as fifth-placed Albania welcome Georgia and Greece travel to Turkey.