Standing in Heraklion, Levadeiakos has “stuck” from the “bottom” and is waiting for Ionian and Lamia!

In the coach’s mind

THE Valdas Dabrauskas lined up OFI with a system 3-4-3. Mandas was found under the goal, with Vouros, Pasalidis and Diamantis making up the defense trio. Larson and Thorarinson played on the two wings, with Mejado, Bakic and Duce in the midfield. Balogiannis and Diko were at the top of the attack.

On the other hand, Mr Yannis Petrakis choose it 5-3-2 for the Boeotians. Groff started in goal, with Tsapras, Paz, Vinicius, Liagas and Panagiotis in the defensive line. Hammond, Mechia and Nikas were found in the midfielder positions, with Gianniota and Sahpekidis forming the attack line.

The match:

Identifiers the first minutes of the match can be characterized, with OFI controlling the pace, moving the ball more comfortably. The many duels however, in the central area, they kept the first moments of the match at a low tempo.

It is indicative that the first final has come in the 14th minute, with Diamantis’ weak shot, after a Cretan corner. A minute later, it was the turn of OFI’s other defender to threaten, with Pasalidis’ header going past the left post. Seconds later, Levadeiakos responded to the opportunities with his Nice to miss from an advantageous position, after catching the shot with the outside off, sending the ball well wide.

In the 25th minute, the team of Yiannis Petrakis – who was deified before the cross by OFI’s friends – “touch” the goal in the biggest phase of the match. Specifically, Tsapras made the turn from the right, o Sahpekidis won the matches within the region, went out tete-a-tete with Manda, but the home keeper impressively cleared the danger.

In the 31st minute, it was OFI’s turn to threaten, again with double chance, as before. First, with his head Dicko which was difficult to stop by Groff in his left corner and then with his strong shot Bakits, which was blocked by the Magyar goalkeeper. This was also the last phase of the first half, since in the last quarter the pace dropped noticeably.

It started with the best omens second half for Levadeiakos, who, in his first moment in the second 45 minutes, was lucky to open the score! In particular, the visitors took the lead in the 48th minute, with a wonderful shot Nika’s head turned at the first post, after a corner by Gianniotas.

In the 51st minute, Vladas Dabrauskas’ team almost answered… with his long shot Balogiannis to pass by the opposing frames. Somewhere there, the rhythm that was going to be created in the match… was lost, as something… injuries of Paz and Gianniotas – both were replaced -, something to the “shock” of OFI who found themselves behind in the score, did not favor the rhythm.

As time passed, Levadeiakos retreated, leaving meters on the field for OFI. A choice that, based on the image of the match, “hurt” the team of Yannis Petrakis, which could not withstand the pressure and accepted the equalization. The Cretans tied the match in the 73rd minute of the match, with amazing direct free kick by Bakic from 22 yards, with the Montenegrin sending the ball powerfully into the bottom left corner of the helpless Groff.

More in a while…



The match lineups:

OFI (Vladas Dabrauskas): Mandas, Vouros, Pasalidis, Diamantis, Larson, Meyado, Duce, Thorarinson, Bakits, Balogiannis, Diko.

Levadeiakos (Yiannis Petrakis): Groff, Tsapras, Paz (52′ Tentakis), Vinicius, Liagas, Panagiotou, Hammond, Mechia, Nikas, Gianniotas, Sehpekidis.

See it here Live of the race.