Cyprus 2-2 Romania Player Ratings: Denis Drăguș 9/10 Rated as Hosts Fight Back for a Thrilling Draw

What a rollercoaster of a match we've just witnessed at the Neo GSP. A classic game of two halves. Romania stormed into what looked like an unassailable 2-0 lead. It all happened within the first 20 minutes and looked like a game over for Cyprus. The visitors were rampant, clinical, and in total control. Denis Drăguș was simply unplayable, bagging a quick-fire brace that left the home side stunned. But football, as they say, is a funny old game. Cyprus refused to lie down and accept defeat.

A goal from Loizos Loizou just before the half-hour mark gave them a glimmer of hope. The second half was a completely different story. The home side came out with renewed purpose, pressing high and creating chances. Their persistence finally paid off with a late equalizer, securing a dramatic point in this memorable match. Here are the Cyprus vs Romania player ratings.

Cyprus Player Ratings vs Romania

Here are the Cyprus player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Fabiano - 6.5: We thought he could've done little for the two early goals. He was left exposed by his defence. After that, he made some crucial saves, including two from inside the box, to keep his team in the contest. A solid, if unspectacular, performance from the man between the sticks.

Defenders

Andreas Siikkis - 6.5: A real fighter on the right flank. He was tenacious in the tackle, winning six of his nine duels. What stood out to us was how he drew five fouls, constantly frustrating the Romanian attackers. A battling display that helped turn the tide.

Konstantinos Laifis - 6.5: He looked a bit overwhelmed in the opening 20 minutes as Romania ran riot. To his credit, he grew into the game. He made six clearances and was composed in possession, but the early defensive lapses bring his rating down slightly.

Christos Sielis - 6.5: A very tidy performance on the ball, with an impressive 91% pass accuracy from 97 attempted passes. He was a calm head in a frantic backline. He also made five clearances, contributing to the second-half shutout.

Kostas Pileas - 5.5: A difficult first half for the left-back. He struggled to contain Romania's attacks down his side. He was substituted at half-time, and it felt like the right call as the team looked more balanced afterwards.

Midfielders

Grigoris Kastanos - 8.5: Our man of the match for Cyprus, without a doubt. A true captain's performance. He never stopped running, provided a brilliant assist, and won an incredible 11 of his 12 duels. He drove his team forward and was the heartbeat of the comeback.

Ioannis Kousoulos - 5.0: A day he'll want to forget. From our perspective, his error leading to a goal was a major blow. He also picked up a yellow card and was rightly substituted just after the hour mark. He just never looked comfortable.

Giannis Kosti - 7.0: A really neat and tidy display in the heart of midfield. His 96% pass accuracy was exceptional. He kept the ball moving and created two key chances before being substituted. An intelligent performance that helped Cyprus gain control.

Loizos Loizou - 7.5: Scored the vital goal that sparked the comeback. He was a livewire throughout his time on the pitch, always looking to take players on. His end product wasn't always perfect, but his energy and goal were crucial.

Marinos Tzionis - 7.0: Unlucky not to get on the scoresheet. He hit the woodwork and forced a good save from the keeper. What stood out was his direct running and willingness to shoot. A constant threat to the Romanian defence.

Forwards

Ioannis Pittas - 7.0: A tireless performance leading the line. He held the ball up well and brought his teammates into play. He had a couple of shots on target and his physical presence was a real handful for the Romanian centre-backs. He also put in a defensive shift, which we appreciated.

Substitutes

Anderson Correia - 6.5: Came on at half-time and helped shore up the left side of the defence. A definite improvement on the man he replaced.

Charalampos Charalampous - 8.0: The hero of the hour. Came off the bench and scored the dramatic equalizer. His energy and desire were infectious, a game-changing substitution.

Andronikos Kakoullis - 6.0: Added fresh legs but didn't have a massive impact on the game.

Charalambos Kyriakou - 6.0: Came on and helped see out the draw with some steady play.

Nikos Koutsakos - N/A: Not on long enough to receive a rating.

Manager

A. Mantzios - 7.5: He deserves huge credit. His team was 2-0 down and staring at a heavy defeat. His halftime adjustments and second-half substitutions, particularly bringing on the goalscorer Charalampous, were spot on. He engineered a fantastic comeback.

Romania Player Ratings vs Cyprus

Here are the Romania player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Horațiu Moldovan - 7.0: Despite conceding two goals, he was one of Romania's better players. He made a massive six saves, three from inside the box. Without his interventions, Romania would have surely lost this match. A frustrating night for him.

Defenders

Andrei Rațiu - 6.0: An average display. He showed some promise going forward but was often caught out of position defensively as Cyprus grew into the game. He struggled to handle the pressure in the second half.

Andrei Burcă - 6.5: A beast in the air, winning almost all of his aerial duels. He made seven clearances and a few key blocks. However, he also picked up a yellow card and was part of a defence that completely crumbled under pressure.

Virgil Ghiță - 5.0: A really poor performance from our perspective. He looked shaky all evening, was dribbled past twice, and made an error that led to a shot. A central defender needs to be more commanding than this.

Nicușor Bancu - 5.5: He got an early yellow card and never looked settled. He lost the ball a staggering 19 times. While he tried to get forward, his defensive responsibilities were neglected as the game wore on.

Midfielders

Răzvan Marin - 7.0: He was excellent in the first half, dictating play and providing a clever assist. He was tidy in possession and looked a class above. It was a surprise to see him substituted, as his influence was missed.

Marius Marin - 6.5: A solid, combative performance in the midfield engine room. He broke up play well with three tackles. However, he offered very little creativity going forward, which was needed in the second half.

Nicolae Stanciu - 5.5: A very quiet game for the captain. We barely noticed him. He lost possession far too often and failed to grab the game by the scruff of the neck when his team was under pressure. A disappointing showing.

Forwards

Dennis Man - 6.0: He had his moments and looked dangerous, but his final product was lacking. He missed a big chance that could have put the game to bed. A frustrating performance full of what-ifs.

Alexandru Dobre - 6.0: He worked hard but was largely ineffective. He committed four fouls and struggled to create any clear-cut opportunities before being substituted. Not his best day at the office.

Denis Drăguș - 9.0: The highest rated player on the pitch and our Man of the Match. He was simply sensational in the first half, scoring two goals with clinical finishes. He was a constant menace. It's a shame his teammates couldn't hold onto the lead his brilliance had provided.

Substitutes

David Miculescu - 6.0: Came on and had one good chance saved, but couldn't change the momentum of the game.

Adrian Sut - N/A: On for only a few minutes before being substituted due to an injury.

Deian Sorescu - 5.5: Made little impact after coming on.

Florin Tanase - 5.5: Brought on late but couldn't influence the proceedings.

Manager

M. Lucescu - 5.0: From our perspective, he has to take responsibility for this result. His team had a 2-0 lead and threw it away. He failed to react tactically to Cyprus's resurgence, and his substitutions did nothing to stem the tide. A poor day at the office for the manager.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Grigoris Kastanos