Epic battle in Athens as Olympiacos devastates AEK in Greek Cup Final

By: Peter Katsiris | May 3rd, 2009

It was a thrilling night in Athens; eight goals, two sending offs, and a nervy penalty shootout kept supporters of both sides of their seats from start to finish, on an evening which saw Olympiacos triumph to bag yet another domestic double.

Two sides driven by different motives, AEK and Olympiacos entered the match with different incentives. While AEK hoped for a successful end to a disappointing season, it was instead the defending champions’ call to retain their title that was answered.

Neither regulation nor extra time could separate the sides, and a gruelling penalty shootout was the only alternative. Deduced to nine-men, Olympiacos held on to defend their title with unlikely hero, net minder Antonis Nikopolidis, striking the decisive penalty to put an end to a marathon of penalties.

First Half

Showing plenty of urgency in their attack, AEK’s hopes of ending their trophy drought were boosted on four minutes when Rafik Djebbour and Ismael Blanco combined to beat Olympiacos ‘keeper Antonis Nikopolidis. Djebbour managed to hold off his markers and earn enough time and space for himself before providing a cross for Blanco. The Argentine striker made no mistake as he headed past a flatfooted Nikopolidis.

AEK’s loyal fans had more to celebrate soon after Blanco’s breakthrough; the Argentine bagged a brace on eight minutes. A sly through pass from Pantelis Kafes sent Blanco on a rampant run inside the Olympiacos box before, and with a fierce shot from Blanco AEK went 2-0 up inside ten minutes.

Startled by AEK’s proactive start, Olympiacos attempted to regroup and claw their way back into the game. Their progress was stymied by AEK’s resilient defense; Diogo’s way-off miss the best the Super League winners could do on eleven minutes.

While Olympiacos continued to create space down the flanks, it took some time for Ernesto Valverde’s men to muster another chance of any relevance. Their hopes for a goal ahead of the interval relied on Sebastian Leto’s effort on thirty-eight minutes. The on-loan Liverpool midfielder released a swift shot on goal, but a reflex save from Sebastian Saja preserved AEK’s 2-0 lead.

Now managing to force AEK to a more defensive approach, Olympiacos’ task still came mountainous as the Piraeus giants looked small in comparison to a lopsided score-line at the interval. The AEK contingent in the stands echoed with their cheers as both sides headed for the dressing rooms, while a dull cry was heard from the Olympiacos end.

Second Half

It was rather obvious what Olympiacos had to do: penetrate the AEK defense, and finally beat Saja. Valverde took the initiative before the restart as Christos Patsatzoglou, a traditionally defensive minded midfielder, was withdrawn for the zestful Matt Derbyshire.

The on-loan Blackburn Rovers striker paired up with strike partner Diogo up front, and it didn’t take long for Olympiacos’ reinforced offense to pull through.

The Englishman had first frustrated AEK’s backline to win a corner, but Derbyshire’s impact left much more of a dent. Didier Domi’s cross into the AEK box found the head of Derbyshire, who nestled his aerial effort past a stranded Saja.

The defending Greek Champions were back in the game one minute in to the second half. Realizing a second goal was still needed, the ‘Erythrolefki’ pushed forward continuously as AEK’s defense aimed to avoid a collapse.

Sensing their rivals were nearing a rebellion, AEK searched for the same zest that brought them their two early tallies. Although Blanco was now silenced by the Olympiacos defense, compatriot Ignacio Scocco was still a threat. The Argentine’s free-kick nearly turned lethal for Olympiacos when a stretched Nikopolidis’ drop the ball just inches away from a gaping goal. A sigh of relief settled on the Olympiacos bench as the ball trickled out for a corner.

It was clear fortunes began to favour Olympiacos in the second half as the arrival of the hour mark meant a departure for club captain Sotiris Kyrgiakos. The Greece international was no longer able to continue after what appeared to be an innocent race for the loose ball. A less experienced Giorgos Alexopoulos was now trusted with the reins in the center of defense. Alongside Daniel Majstorovic, the pair were looked upon to man the barricades with Olympiacos closing in.

The resistance only lasted ten minutes, all the time Olympiacos needed to net an equalizer. A goal that had appeared to be in the near future after a shaky AEK backline struggled to keep pace, came in the form of a desperate poke from Dudu.

The former CSKA Moscow midfielder was part of a scramble pursuing the loose ball off a Fernando Belluschi. The Brazilian was given just enough space to poke his effort past Saja to send his side level on seventy minutes.

A monumental lead gas now been purged by the Piraeus outfit, and Dusan Bajevic’s men were forced to start from scratch. But while AEK still appeared to have a chance of sealing a late victory, Olympiacos missed taking the lead for the first by slim fractions.

Luciano Galletti dribbled past his markers before providing a parallel cross for Derbyshire. The U-21 England international stretched in a bid to connect with the Argentine’s looping cross, but the finish missed by a slim margin.

Embarking on an offensive endeavour of their own, a desperate AEK defense targeted the flanks in an attempt to shake-off a miserable second half with a dagger in the hearts of Olympiacos.

The sharp pain was surely conjured by Olympiacos fans when Scocco made the most of a quick throw-in from Geraldo Alves, only after escaping two defenders and converting past Nikopolidis. The Argentine was fluent with control as neither Avraam Papadopoulos nor Domi could halt Scocco’s progress towards goal which led to AEK’s third goal of the game on ninety minutes.

AEK’s go-ahead goal appeared to be too much for Kyrgiakos, and the feisty Greek defender was sent off from the sidelines. His early exit, however, only meant the Athenian side would be down one man on the bench after being substituted a half hour earlier.

Kyrgiakos’ ejection occupied most of the initial added time and so did a on-field collision involving AEK’s stingy defense and Derbyshire. The Englishman was not to be outdone by his opponents, and on ninety-six minutes proved how efficient he was.

A long ranged pass up the field appeared to be a desperate attempt for a dramatic leveller, but Diogo’s header on, and Derbyshire’s ability to free himself of Geraldo Alves proved to be the right formula when Saja was beat for the third time on the night.

It was a heart wrenching end to the match for AEK fans, while Olympiacos’ faithful followers were sent into pandemonium thanks to their side’s ability to claw back.

Extra Time

First Half

The effects of Olympiacos’ late charge to score ahead of the end of stoppage time transferred with both sides to a tense extra time. AEK seemed crippled by Derbyshire’s late heroics, and their progress was stunted by Olympiacos’ grip on the game.

The Piraeus outfit managed to block most arteries of AEK’s attack, and eventually the Greek Champions, now seemingly a shoe-in to score, beat Saja for a third time.

Predrag Djordjevic supplied a swift through pass for Galletti, and the latter made no mistake as his effort beat Saja to the far corner. Although Olympiacos had taken the lead for the first time on the night, an immature idea for a celebration – removing his shirt – saw an ecstatic Galletti directed to the dressing rooms after his second booking of the night.

The match continued to sway in AEK’s favour when Avraam Papadopoulos, usually a disciplined defender for the ‘Erythrolefki’, was forced to commit a required foul on a breaking Pantelis Kafes. To no surprise the Greece international’s actions were condemned as Avraam Papadopoulos was sent to the showers; leaving Olympiacos with nine men ahead of the extra time interval.

Second Half

It was now AEK’s turn to take advantage, while Olympiacos desperately tried to provide cover for their two absentees. Although Olympiacos’ nine-man defense now continued to stymie AEK’s progress, a lethal error by Nikopolidis gave AEK the goal they had been looking for.

Much like his earlier run, Scocco troubled the Olympiacos defense to sneak into the box. From there the Argentine look to tee up a cross for the array of yellow shirts in the box; however, all were fooled as Scocco’s delivery graced the back of the Olympiacos net past Nikopolidis.

A seemingly innocent build-up translated into a lethal finish, and AEK’s hunt for a goal now targeted a fifth tally.

The opportunity of overwhelming Olympiacos was wasted as AEK’s poor organization in offense failed to solve the Olympiacos defense. Instead, a match unravelling as Greece’s greatest ever was eased past extra-time and into a rare penalty shootout.

Penalties

With great expectations piled on the shoulders of players from both sides, it was surprising to see the first eight shooters all find the back of the net. The fifth round ended that trend as AEK’ Majstorovic was denied by the woodwork, Olympiacos’ trusted penalty taker Djordjevic failed to take advantage as Saja denied the Serbian.

Strikers’ perfection carried on for the next three rounds, only until Nikos Georgeas, with the captain’s armband for AEK, was denied by Nikopolidis. The ball was set for a nervous Paraskevas Antzas, who had refused to take the round’s previous penalty in favour of the accommodating Nikopolidis. Antzas’ nerves appeared to be for good reason as the now retired Greece international was denied by a sharp Saja.

Seven more rounds were in store before there was another blip in the penalty process. With the shootout score now at 14-14, Agustin Pelletieri attempted to send AEK ahead yet again. Though his prior strike had beaten Nikopolidis, the Greek shot-stopper now denied Pelletieri as Olympiacos were blessed with a third chance to purge the penalty shootout.

Having made the save to put his side in an optimal position, Nikopolidis was handed the opportunity to seal Olympiacos fourth domestic double in the last fifteen years. The former Greece international was cool in his build-up, and clinical with his release as Nikopolidis put an end to a crazy night in the Greek capital by beating Saja and crushing AEK hearts.

It was surely a cruel end to what was a classic Greek Cup clash. Olympiacos withstood the adversity, including an early two-goal deficit; however, AEK’s performance throughout the night left much to be admired.

The climax surely came at the right time for Olympiacos as another season is put to an end. For AEK, the mood in the locker room may be worrisome ahead of the Athenians’ stint in the Super League’s playoffs.

AEK Athens FC 4-4 Olympiacos CFP
Blanco 4′, 8′, Scocco 90′, 107′ – Derbyshire 47′, 90+6, Dudu 70′, Galletti 102′

Olympiacos CFP win 15-14 on penalties

Yellow Cards:
AEK Athens FC – Kafes 24′, Kyrgiakos 34 (90+1′), Nsaliwa 43′, Geraldo Alves 72′.
Olympiacos CFP – A. Papadopoulos 34′ (105′), Galletti 68′ (103′).

Red Cards:
AEK Athens FC – Kyrgiakos 90+1′ (sent off after double booking, but sent off while on AEK bench).
Olympiacos CFP – Galletti 103′(sent off after double booking), A. Papadopoulos 105′ (sent off double booking).

AEK Athens FC (Dusan Bajevic): Saja, Georgeas, Kyrgiakos, Majstorovic, Geraldo Alves, Nsaliwa, Kafes, Manduca (68′ Pelletieri), Scocco, Djebbour (77′ Edinho), Blanco.

Olympiacos CFP (Ernesto Valverde): Nikopolidis, Torosidis, Antzas, A. Papadopoulos, Domi, Dudu, Patsatzoglou (46′ Derbyshire, 96′ Oscar), Galletti, Leto (62′ Djordjevic), Belluschi, Diogo.

Referee: Anastasios Kakos

Venue: OAKA Spyros Louis Stadium, Athens, Greece.