Some notes on Spurs loanee Anthony Georgiou’s performance against CD Castellón:

Spurs loanee Anthony Georgiou was in action for Spanish third division side Atlético Levante on Sunday afternoon when the ‘ Granotas ‘ B team faced local rivals CD Castellón at a packed out Nou Estadi Castàlia. The Cyprus international started Sunday’s league game out on the left wing in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Georgiou would complete 64 minutes of the match. This was a difficult game for Luis Tevenet’s Levante side, who came up against a very well structured and solid Castellón defence who did their best to nullify the wide men. This made Georgiou’s task that little bit more difficult and it meant that he couldn’t really express himself out on the left flank. The home side were the better team for large periods of the game and after they took the lead in the first half through Rubén Díez they looked as if they were going to win the game however, Levante battled well and they were able to net an equaliser late on in the game to gain a vital point. There was a good atmosphere for Sunday’s Derby match at the Nou Estadi Castàlia, this would have been one of the best atmospheres that young Anthony Georgiou would ever have experienced. The 22 year old caught the eye during the opening stages of the match with his tracking back and defensive work to help out Levante left back Rulo. Georgiou’s first real attacking involvement in the game occurred after the winger exchanged passes with Pepelu down the left channel before laying the ball off to Eneko on the edge of the Castellón penalty area, but the ‘ Granotas ‘ striker fired wide of Campos‘ goal. Georgiou made his first important defensive intervention of the game around five minute later. The deep lying winger did well to cut out Rubén Díez’s pass through to César Díaz down the the right flank. It’s a good job that Georgiou was there to make their interception as Díaz would have had a clean route through to goal, if he had received the pass. Despite a fairly even start to the game it was the home side who took the lead through Rubén Díez after his deflected effort on goal had managed to creep past Levante goalkeeper Cárdenas and into the back of the net.

It had been difficult for Georgiou to influence the game from an attacking perspective during the first half as Levante weren’t playing with much width about them. After a free kick for Luis Tevenet’s side had amounted to nothing, the ball came to Pepelu on the edge of the Castellón penalty area. The Levante midfielder teed the ball off to Georgiou who struck the ball first time on his left foot. However, his powerful low drive went wide of the Castellón goal. A couple of moments later Georgiou received the ball from Pepelu out on the left wing, he continued forward before pumping the ball into the danger zone in an attempt to pick out Levante centre forward Eneko. However, the youngsters cross ended up going straight down the throat of Castellón goalkeeper Campos, who claimed the ball. I noticed that Georgiou’s English speaking teammate Shaq Moore gave him some advice after a break in play, a couple of minutes later. Georgiou was the victim of some cynical fouls from the Castellón defenders who were intent on stopping the pacy winger from going on surging forward runs down the left wing. His movement during the opening stages of the game had been good and he had been doing well to keep up with the pace of the game. A corner kick which was whipped in by Joan, managed to find its way to Georgiou down the right wing after he had won the ball off of Satrústegui. The skilful Cyprus international managed to hold off the Castellón defender before sending a low cross into the penalty area, however, it was cleared behind for a corner kick by Gálvez. Less then a minute after the resulting corner kick was taken, Georgiou could be seen defending down the opposite end of the pitch, the referee blew his whistle for time a couple of moments later. Blesa came close to finding an equaliser from a free kick, shortly after the restart. After Joan had managed to win a free kick out on the right flank, Georgiou elected to take it. He whipped an excellent pacy ball into the danger zone, managing to pick out Genís whose looping header on goal was saved relatively comfortably by Campos. Georgiou delivered a decent corner kick into the box shortly afterwards but it was cleared away from danger by Castellón defender Muguruza.

Georgiou was working hard, to try and create chances for his struggling teammates down the left hand channel. After Genís had shifted the ball out to the Lewisham born winger down the left flank, Georgiou managed to dart past Muguruza as he powered forward. However, the Castellón fullback caught the Spurs man from behind, but he was able to keep his balance and eventually whip the ball into the danger zone. Eneko almost managed to meet it at Campos’ back post. Georgiou was enjoying a decent spell in the game and after he had managed to make a good run down the left side of the Castellón penalty area he received Joan’s pass. Georgiou took a touch before blazing an effort over Campos‘ crossbar, it was to be his final involvement in the game as he was replaced by Joel straight afterwards. Anthony looked disappointed to have been brought off so early on in the second half, but despite the circumstances of the game and the solidity of the oppositions defence, Georgiou should be able to hold his head high after putting in another battling performance for the Spanish club, on only his third appearance for them. Georgiou did very well considering that he was essentially living off of scraps down the left hand side of the pitch. From a defensive perspective I thought that the 22 year old had a very good game. He really helped out Levante’s left back Rulo by making some important defensive contributions throughout the match. Georgiou’s willingness to track and stay deep frustrated Castellón winger César Díaz. And from an offensive point of view I was proud of how he was constantly getting himself into good spaces and positions out wide, and making some good forward runs. Georgiou pumped some good crosses into the danger zone, and he was involved in a number of good attacks for Luis Tevenet’s side. His high work rate, tigerish pressing and willingness to get stuck in were all positive things which I noticed from Anthony’s performance. The ‘ Granotas ‘ B teams next match is on Sunday when they host Alcoyano at the Ciudad Deportiva de Buñol. With an international break coming up towards the end of the month, I would be very surprised if Anthony wasn’t called up to the Cyprus senior team for any international friendlies that they might play.

Anthony Georgiou for Atlético Levante this season:

Appearances: 3

Goals: 1

Assists: 0