Our side, in a 4-4-1-1 formation, featured Roberto under the post. In defense, from right to left, Papazoglou, Avraam, Marcano and Bong. N’Dinga and Maniatis in the midfield. At the wings, Olaitan in the right and Perez in the left. “Chori” Dominguez was placed just behind Saviola in Olympiacos defense.
In 28’, Maniatis pressed high up close to Platanias box, intercepted the ball and passed swiftly to Olaitan. The Nigerian star stormed into the box and beat Giorgallidis opening the score 1-0 amidst fan frenzy!
Against the run of play and despite Olympiacos dominance on the pitch, Platanias leveled it in 36’. Following a corner kick, Goundoulakis received the ball and launched a high ball parallel to the goalmouth. Torres met with the ball and headed home taking Roberto and the defenders by surprise.
It was in 68’ when Nelson Valdez brought the match to 2-1. After a neat pass from Ibagaza, Saviola chested the ball and laid it in for Valdez who tapped it home. The celebrations for 2-1 were hardly over when the Legend made it 3-1 with Igabaza starting the build-up. “Caño” passed to to Saviola on the left, overlapped him and received the ball again. As we rushed in the box, he turned it to Perez who met with the ball only to seal his great performance with a beautiful header in 70’! Vlahodimos reduced the gap immediately after in 3-2, with an outstanding left-footer from the edge of the box in 72’; but in 78’ “Caño” took on the corner kick and Marcano headed home for the final 4-2!
OLYMPIACOS: Roberto, Papazoglou (66’ Ibagaza), Bong, Papadopoulos, Marcano, N’Dinga, Maniatis, Olaitan (73’ Machado), Perez, Dominguez (57’ Valdez), Saviola.
