Olympiacos ends slump with win over Asteras

By: Peter Katsiris | September 2nd, 2008

Olympiacos ended its recent slump and their supporter’s misery — due to an early exit from the Champions League — with a 3-goal performance in the second half, to overcome Asteras Tripolis on Saturday. Trailing by one after the first half, the side rallied to pop in three unanswered tallies to grab the full three points on the season’s opening day.

It seemed that Olympiacos was destined to continue its sloppy play and lack of finishing as the homeside failed to take advantage of several opportunities. Despite summer signing, Diogo Santo, making his debut for his new club, Olympiacos found it hard to crack a sturdy Asteras defense which was anchored by goalkeeper Georgios Abaris.

The task become mush more difficult just before the half time whistles, as Christos Patsatzoglou brought down Mauricio Milano to give the visitors a chance to take the lead from the spot. Danijel Cesarec stepped up for the Arcadian club, and the Croat converted past a tricked Antonis Nikopolidis.

After the restart, Olympiacos’ look inspired. Led by winger Luciano Galletti, the homeside only increased the lop-sided possession and began to frustrate a nervous Asteras defense. Playing with eleven in their back field, the visitors were trapped in their own half. Managing to hold strong for a good fifteen minutes, the Asteras resistance finally gave way when a scorching shot from Galletti found the back of the net from distance.

It was 2-1 less than two minutes later, as Galletti added his second of the season when Diogo was brought down in the box. The Argentine stepped up to the spot and easily converted to give Olympiacos the lead. In real control by this time, Olympiacos sealed the match and eliminated any chances of an Asteras comeback when Darko Kovacevic made it 3-1. The Serbian played the ball gently off his right foot, to fool Abaris as it found the bootom corner of the goal.

Asteras was reduced to ten men just before added time, as substitute

It was an important victory for the ‘Eruthroleuki’, especially after their midweek horror-show against Anorthosis Famagusta. Even more so, when you consider Asteras was one of the few clubs to travel to Karaiskaki last year and come away with points (1-1 draw).

Olympiacos 3-1 Asteras Tripolis
Galletti 61′, 63′(p), Kovacevic 81′ — Cesarec 45′

Bookings:
Olympiacos — none.
Asteras Tripolis — Damonte 26′, Urribarri 34′, Abaris 59′, Zairi 77′, 89′ (sent off)

Olympiacos (Ernesto Valverde): Nikopolidis, Pantos, Zewlakow, A. Papadopoulos, Domi, Galletti, Dudu, Patsatzoglou (46′ Belluschi), Leto (80′ Stoltidis), Diogo, Mitroglou (54′ Kovacevic).

Asteras Tripolis (Carlos Carvalhal): Abaris, Flavio, Marcelao, Lazaridis, Damonte, Bastia (78′ Kamburov), Fabio, Urribarri (78′ Jean Carlos), Jorginho, Milano (62′ Zairi), Cesarec.

Referee: Michalis Germanakos

Linesmen: K. Vassalos, K. Papacharalambous

Venue: Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus

Highlights: