|
|
Olympiakos Edge Past Xanthi
High profile summer signing Diogo scored his first goal for Olympiakos as the Erythrolefki claimed a 1-0 away victory against Skoda Xanthi on Saturday evening.
13-Sep-2008 11:52:54 PM
The defending champions barely registered a shot on target until the Brazilian striker headed home a Luciano Galletti cross in the 72nd minute of the match, as Ernesto Valverde’s outfit maintained their perfect start to the Greek Super League following their 3-1 home victory over Asteras Tripolis two weeks ago.
However, the visitors were hardly convincing as they found themselves almost totally dominated by a determined Xanthi outfit during the first-half, as Stelios Katrakilakis’ outfit created a number of goal-scoring opportunities for themselves and monopolized possession.
First Half
The northern outfit should have taken the lead after just seven minutes of play when the ball was spread to the left-hand flank for Poland international Rafał Grzelak, who proceeded to deliver a low cross into the box. The ball evaded the outstretched boot of striker Dimitrios Souanis but found its way to an unmarked Victor Agali who wasted the opportunity at the far post.
Xanthi’s encouraging start almost yielded an opening goal just four minutes later, after last week’s wonder-goal hero Nabil Taider burst through midfield with a powerful run before releasing Francisco Zuela on the right side. The Angolan cut back onto his right foot before slipping the ball into the path off Agali inside the box, who saw his attempt smothered at his feet by alert Olympiakos 'keeper Antonios Nikopolidis.
The Nigerian striker’s physical presence and willingness to drop deeper to collect the ball in midfield areas unsettled the Olympiakos back-line, with the likes of Taider, Souanis and Grzelak all threatening from attacking positions.
On 27 minutes, another diagonal ball found Grzelak unmarked on the left-hand side of the pitch and the midfielder skilfully cut inside two players before producing a weak shot off his right foot that Nikopolidis saved comfortably.
Olympiakos made their first genuine incursion into the Xanthi penalty area just six minutes later, as a direct ball dropped at the feet of on-loan Liverpool midfielder Sebastian Leto just outside the box. The Argentine slipped the ball into the feet of striker Darko Kovacevic in the penalty area but the Serb only managed a weak shot that trickled harmlessly across the face of goal.
The ineffectual front-man was withdrawn at half-time by manager Ernesto Valverde, who introduced midfielder Ieroklis Stoltidis into the match in an attempt to change the complexion of the contest.
Second Half
It still took Olympiakos another fifteen minutes – five minutes after the introduction of former Xanthi man Vasilis Torosidis off the bench – to register their first meaningful attempt towards goal. Fernando Belluschi’s half-volley from just inside the penalty area flashed past Austrian goalkeeper Michael Gspruning’s right post.
The breakthrough for the Thrylos arrived on 72 minutes however in rather simple fashion. Ieroklis Stoltidis received the ball in midfield and spread it wide to Luciano Galletti on the right touch-line, where the Argentine managed to control it before producing a superb cross into the penalty area. Brazilian Diogo managed to get in between defenders Zuale and Spyros Vallas, heading home into a virtually empty net, with substitute goalkeeper Sotirios Lyberopoulos off his line.
Valverde’s players should have doubled their lead just over ten minutes later when Stoltidis was allowed to reach the by-line before cutting the ball back to Leto. From insisde the area, Leto hit a first-time strike that was palmed away unconvincingly by the Xanthi shot-stopper. During the same passage of play, Leto forced his way to the by-line on the opposite side of the pitch before slipping the ball into the path of Luciano Galletti, who blasted a first-time striker over the bar from inside the penalty area.
A resolute Xanthi still managed to forge one last chance for themselves as Victor Agali managed to beat Avraam Papadopoulos to the by-line inside the area but only managed a weak attempt at a cut-back which Nikopolidis stopped comfortably.
Despite the impressive 1-0 victory away against Panionios last-round, the Queen of Thrace came away from this match with no points despite their creditable effort. They must now prepare for another difficult encounter, as the side travel to the Alkazar to face Larissa next weekend.
Xanthi 0
Olympiakos 1 (72’ Diogo)
Line-ups:
Xanthi: Gspruning (46’ Lyberopoulos), Fliskas, Vallas, Zuela, Tziortzopoulos, Lorefice, Maciel (65’ Pappas), Grzelak (77’ Poy), Souanis, Taider, Agali
Olympiakos: Nikopolidis, Pantos (55’ Torosidis), Leonardo, Papadopoulos, Zewlakow, Dudu, Belluschi, Galletti, Leto, Kovacevic (46’ Stoltidis), Diogo (79’ Oscar)
Chris Paraskevas
However, the visitors were hardly convincing as they found themselves almost totally dominated by a determined Xanthi outfit during the first-half, as Stelios Katrakilakis’ outfit created a number of goal-scoring opportunities for themselves and monopolized possession.
First Half
The northern outfit should have taken the lead after just seven minutes of play when the ball was spread to the left-hand flank for Poland international Rafał Grzelak, who proceeded to deliver a low cross into the box. The ball evaded the outstretched boot of striker Dimitrios Souanis but found its way to an unmarked Victor Agali who wasted the opportunity at the far post.
Xanthi’s encouraging start almost yielded an opening goal just four minutes later, after last week’s wonder-goal hero Nabil Taider burst through midfield with a powerful run before releasing Francisco Zuela on the right side. The Angolan cut back onto his right foot before slipping the ball into the path off Agali inside the box, who saw his attempt smothered at his feet by alert Olympiakos 'keeper Antonios Nikopolidis.
The Nigerian striker’s physical presence and willingness to drop deeper to collect the ball in midfield areas unsettled the Olympiakos back-line, with the likes of Taider, Souanis and Grzelak all threatening from attacking positions.
On 27 minutes, another diagonal ball found Grzelak unmarked on the left-hand side of the pitch and the midfielder skilfully cut inside two players before producing a weak shot off his right foot that Nikopolidis saved comfortably.
Olympiakos made their first genuine incursion into the Xanthi penalty area just six minutes later, as a direct ball dropped at the feet of on-loan Liverpool midfielder Sebastian Leto just outside the box. The Argentine slipped the ball into the feet of striker Darko Kovacevic in the penalty area but the Serb only managed a weak shot that trickled harmlessly across the face of goal.
The ineffectual front-man was withdrawn at half-time by manager Ernesto Valverde, who introduced midfielder Ieroklis Stoltidis into the match in an attempt to change the complexion of the contest.
Second Half
It still took Olympiakos another fifteen minutes – five minutes after the introduction of former Xanthi man Vasilis Torosidis off the bench – to register their first meaningful attempt towards goal. Fernando Belluschi’s half-volley from just inside the penalty area flashed past Austrian goalkeeper Michael Gspruning’s right post.
The breakthrough for the Thrylos arrived on 72 minutes however in rather simple fashion. Ieroklis Stoltidis received the ball in midfield and spread it wide to Luciano Galletti on the right touch-line, where the Argentine managed to control it before producing a superb cross into the penalty area. Brazilian Diogo managed to get in between defenders Zuale and Spyros Vallas, heading home into a virtually empty net, with substitute goalkeeper Sotirios Lyberopoulos off his line.
Valverde’s players should have doubled their lead just over ten minutes later when Stoltidis was allowed to reach the by-line before cutting the ball back to Leto. From insisde the area, Leto hit a first-time strike that was palmed away unconvincingly by the Xanthi shot-stopper. During the same passage of play, Leto forced his way to the by-line on the opposite side of the pitch before slipping the ball into the path of Luciano Galletti, who blasted a first-time striker over the bar from inside the penalty area.
A resolute Xanthi still managed to forge one last chance for themselves as Victor Agali managed to beat Avraam Papadopoulos to the by-line inside the area but only managed a weak attempt at a cut-back which Nikopolidis stopped comfortably.
Despite the impressive 1-0 victory away against Panionios last-round, the Queen of Thrace came away from this match with no points despite their creditable effort. They must now prepare for another difficult encounter, as the side travel to the Alkazar to face Larissa next weekend.
Xanthi 0
Olympiakos 1 (72’ Diogo)
Line-ups:
Xanthi: Gspruning (46’ Lyberopoulos), Fliskas, Vallas, Zuela, Tziortzopoulos, Lorefice, Maciel (65’ Pappas), Grzelak (77’ Poy), Souanis, Taider, Agali
Olympiakos: Nikopolidis, Pantos (55’ Torosidis), Leonardo, Papadopoulos, Zewlakow, Dudu, Belluschi, Galletti, Leto, Kovacevic (46’ Stoltidis), Diogo (79’ Oscar)
Chris Paraskevas
Inside Goal.Com
-
Euro 2012 Group D: Stats to keep at your fingertips
With the final edition of the statistical overview, we take a look at hosts and heavyweights in Group D
-
Blast from the Past - Euro 1976 Final: Czechoslovakia 2(5)-(3)2 West Germany
This edition of Blast from the Past brings a highly eccentric clash between Czechoslovakia and Germany in the Euro 1976 Final.
-
Blast from the Past - Euro 1972 Semi-finals: Belgium 1-2 West Germany
In the latest piece of Blast from the Past, Goal.com takes a look at one of the best matches for the tournament's 1972 edition...
-
Poll: Who will be most missed at Euro 2012?
Several key players from the top teams in the competition will be absent from the Poland and Ukraine, but Goal.com asks whose loss from the tournament will be felt the greatest
-
The list of EPL targets from Euro 2012 Group A
With the transfer rumour mill set to kick into frenzy throughout this month's European Championship, Goal.com looks at which players could be heading for England this summer