Olympiacos unlocked OFI with… a porto-french key! The “red and white” had a hard time against the very good Cretans, but the goals of Biancon and Chikinio in the last half hour they gave the solution (0-2) and the unofficial title of winter champion to his team Jose Luis Mendilibar.
Fourth consecutive three points in the championship for the Piraeus who are building a streak and the right mentality, while they managed to keep a clean sheet and continue alone first at the top.
At the same time, Mr OFI he tried hard, had his moments but was left with one win in his last five games. Despite this, it is only -1 from the eighth place and -3 from the 6th place, while on Wednesday it goes to Volos with a 3-1 victory in the first match to secure qualification to the quarter-finals of the Cup.
On the same day, Mr Olympic hosts Athens Kallithea in the second leg of its 1-0 advantage with the aim of the ticket for the eight. As far as the championship is concerned, the “red and whites” welcome Volos in a week, while the Cretans host AEK.
In the coach’s mind
Milan Rastavac lined up OFI with 4-4-1-1. Naumov in goal and Marinakis, Christopoulos, Bressan, Abada in the four defense. Apostolakis, Karahalios the duo in midfield, with Sengelia, Nous on the wings. Foundas had a free role at Jung’s side.
Same arrangement for Olympiakos from Jose Luis Mendiliber. In goal, Tzolakis and Costinia, Biancon, Pirolak and Ortega in defense. Stamenic with Ese in the center, with Chiquinho, Willian in the “wings”. Kostoulas was moving behind the promoted El Kaabi.
The match
The game started with a phase for OFI when Jung found himself on the back of Biancone but when he executed he saw Pirola put a decisive stop on him in the 4th minute. Olympiacos pressed high and did not allow the home team to play their game, but they themselves could not find clear opportunities, however they threatened with Chikinio’s volley. Willian tried his legs in the 17th minute but did not find a target, with the tempo falling due to the many duels and the four cards that Tsakalides took out of his pocket.
In an explosive two minutes the two teams came close to the goal. In the 32′, initially, Willian with a pass in motion forced Naumov into a big intervention, while in the next minute, Abada shot from a good position in the area, but the ball went against the bodies and ended up as a corner! Piraeus were in control, but struggled against Rastavac’s well-rounded OFI and looked for a way to threaten. Stamenic with a ball found El Kaabi, breaking the… wall of the Cretans in the 43′, but the latter lost control!
Olympiakos in the first part was talkative and without ideas, certainly facing a very good team that is worked and has automatics. However, the whole of Medilibar brought out more intensity and a clearer mind. That’s how the 49′ phase came with Chikinios after Ortega’s turn that Naumov took out, while the fact that the Cretans had difficulty keeping the ball and getting out was also a product of the Piraeus pressure.
In the 55th minute, Foundas made a misplaced shot from the edge of the area, while three minutes later Kostoula’s shot went wide. Finally, the solution for the “red and white” came in a way that we are not used to, but had to find at last: the static phases. Cicinho’s well-timed corner from the right, El Kaabi got a header in, Naumov made a superb save but Biancone grabbed the rebound to make it 1-0 in the 60th minute, with the Frenchman particularly excited for his first goal in a club shirt Piraeus.
The facts were now different, OFI was “excited” and was now chasing goals. Rastavac and Medilibar shuffled the deck: The former made his team more aggressive, the latter managed fatigue. In fact, after the entrance of Papakanellos, Olympiacos had five products of its academies on the field! The minutes ticked by and the Cretans tried to counter-attack, pressing in the last quarter.
They created moments, one with Salcedo and two with Fouda, but both had mistimed finishes. Everything showed that the finale would have a lot of suspense, but the “red and white” made sure to chase it away. Abada looked to head Naumov but mistimed it, with El Kaabi capitalizing and turning it past the unguarded Ciquinho for the final 2-0.
MVP: Julien Biancone takes the title of the top after composing a very stable duo in the center of the defense with the awesome Pirola. However, the inaction of the Frenchman and the fact that he paves the way to victory, makes him get a higher point than his partner.
The whistle: Tsakalides did not face difficult phases, the mistakes he made were in the disciplinary control and mainly in various fouls.
OFI: Naumov, Marinakis (80′ Gonzales), Christopoulos, Bressan, Abada, Apostolakis (80′ Neira), Karahalios, Fountas, Nous (73′ Riera), Sengelia, Jung (61′ Salcedo).
OLYMPIAKOS: Tzolakis, Ortega, Pirola, Biancon (71′ Retsos), Costinha (71′ Rodinei), Ese, Stamenic, Kostoulas (86′ Oliveira), Willian (76′ Papacanellos), Chiquinho, El Caabi.
Source: Sport Fm
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