Preview
Tonights match was a tough old match for us - away to the Voulgaroi in the Toumba bourdello. We had the usual problems with injuries leading into the match but could look forward to putting out a reasonably decent lineup on the field. The vazeloi lost their game last night so a victory would have seen us close to just 2 points behind them. We therefore needed a good performance, and more importantly a win, to maintain the pressure on Poutanas Gioi.
Abdoun opens the score
The game wasn't even a minute old before we took our first chance on the opposition goal with a shot from Mirallas flashing across the face of the goalmouth and another shot from Maniatis taken from distance. Ibagasa also had a cracking shot on goal rebound from the crossbar before the ball was finally bundled across the goal in the 5th minute by Abdoun. Following on from Ibagasa's amazing shot, we forced the ball into the box via Djebbour only for the ball to bobble free, Abdoun was available to knock it over the line and open the scoring. Abdoun showing the hostile crowd the club badge as he wheeled away.
Mirallas doubles the lead
The game settled down after the first frantic five minutes and we were then content to allow the opposition some possession although we ensured that they never had any real chances on goal. We then counter-attacked on the break and this led directly to our second goal when Mirallas dribbled directly through four Voulgaroi defenders to plant the ball in the far side of the net and double the lead. After the game restarted we went back to the counter attack and pressure style of play, breaking up the attacks and then stealing the ball and dragging the opposition back up the pitch.
Keeping possession
As the half continued, the opposition were finally getting closer to our goal and had two chances to grab a goal back in the 30th minute although our defence held firm for the moment. At the other end though we also came close to scoring with a point blank shot from Djebbour although their keeper intercepted the ball before he could correctly connect with the ball. Apart from these chances, the remainder of the half was very muted. The Voulgaroi were very cagey in going forward and that suited us fine at that time. The only exception to this was right at the end of the half when the opposition won a free kick in a good position and there was a brief goalmouth scramble before we cleared the ball.
The half finished with the sound of the home supporters jeering their team off the field.
Second Half
With the opening of the second half, we initially saw the opposition try and get forward with the ball whilst we went back onto the 'pressure and counter' style of play that we saw at the end of the first half. We were very successful in closing down the attacks even though Ivic was clearly providing come creativity for their team. Nevertheless, we continued to play well and even when they did eventually get forward and have a shot on goal, Megyeri made one of the best stops of the game at close range.
Change to Formation
We made a change to the formation to help close down their players more often, Ibagasa making way for Torosidis. This small change changed our teams dynamics making us more defensive but also helping us by also not letting the opposition get anywhere close to our goalmouth. From this moment onwards, the Voulgaroi hardly got into our area and were left impotent on the field. Opposition dickhead Lazar let his frustration get the better of him and received a straight red for a foul and then dissent against the referee. Bizarrely the homosexual supporters applauded his sending off and the problems that would cause for his team.
Kazim-Richards makes debut
Anyway now in the last fifteen minutes of the match we got our first chance to see Kazim-Richards up close. First impressions of the player are that he is ok, obviously unused to our style of play but at least willing to take players on with his dribbling. He came close to grabbing a goal on his debut but found the timing a little out and couldn't get a strike away before the keeper intercepted. We never made any other chances and the Voulgaroi were truly ineffectual throughout so the match ended 0-2 away to us.
Aftermath
The win here kept the pressure on Poutanas Gioi (who truly screwed up against Levadiakos despite the referees best wishes) and takes us to within 2 points of the top of the league. The early goal killed off the opposition and ensured our win today. We can now look forward to our game against the Turkoi on Friday evening although I won't be available to give a report on that particular match.
Voulgaroi 0-2 Olympiakos
5' Abdoun
18' Mirallas
Olympiakos : Megyeri, Modesto, Mellberg, Papadopoulos, Marcano, Maniatis, Orbaiz, Abdoun, Ibagasa (61' Torosidis), Mirallas (77' Kazim-Richards), Djebbour
Tonights match was a tough old match for us - away to the Voulgaroi in the Toumba bourdello. We had the usual problems with injuries leading into the match but could look forward to putting out a reasonably decent lineup on the field. The vazeloi lost their game last night so a victory would have seen us close to just 2 points behind them. We therefore needed a good performance, and more importantly a win, to maintain the pressure on Poutanas Gioi.
Abdoun opens the score
The game wasn't even a minute old before we took our first chance on the opposition goal with a shot from Mirallas flashing across the face of the goalmouth and another shot from Maniatis taken from distance. Ibagasa also had a cracking shot on goal rebound from the crossbar before the ball was finally bundled across the goal in the 5th minute by Abdoun. Following on from Ibagasa's amazing shot, we forced the ball into the box via Djebbour only for the ball to bobble free, Abdoun was available to knock it over the line and open the scoring. Abdoun showing the hostile crowd the club badge as he wheeled away.
Mirallas doubles the lead
The game settled down after the first frantic five minutes and we were then content to allow the opposition some possession although we ensured that they never had any real chances on goal. We then counter-attacked on the break and this led directly to our second goal when Mirallas dribbled directly through four Voulgaroi defenders to plant the ball in the far side of the net and double the lead. After the game restarted we went back to the counter attack and pressure style of play, breaking up the attacks and then stealing the ball and dragging the opposition back up the pitch.
Keeping possession
As the half continued, the opposition were finally getting closer to our goal and had two chances to grab a goal back in the 30th minute although our defence held firm for the moment. At the other end though we also came close to scoring with a point blank shot from Djebbour although their keeper intercepted the ball before he could correctly connect with the ball. Apart from these chances, the remainder of the half was very muted. The Voulgaroi were very cagey in going forward and that suited us fine at that time. The only exception to this was right at the end of the half when the opposition won a free kick in a good position and there was a brief goalmouth scramble before we cleared the ball.
The half finished with the sound of the home supporters jeering their team off the field.
Second Half
With the opening of the second half, we initially saw the opposition try and get forward with the ball whilst we went back onto the 'pressure and counter' style of play that we saw at the end of the first half. We were very successful in closing down the attacks even though Ivic was clearly providing come creativity for their team. Nevertheless, we continued to play well and even when they did eventually get forward and have a shot on goal, Megyeri made one of the best stops of the game at close range.
Change to Formation
We made a change to the formation to help close down their players more often, Ibagasa making way for Torosidis. This small change changed our teams dynamics making us more defensive but also helping us by also not letting the opposition get anywhere close to our goalmouth. From this moment onwards, the Voulgaroi hardly got into our area and were left impotent on the field. Opposition dickhead Lazar let his frustration get the better of him and received a straight red for a foul and then dissent against the referee. Bizarrely the homosexual supporters applauded his sending off and the problems that would cause for his team.
Kazim-Richards makes debut
Anyway now in the last fifteen minutes of the match we got our first chance to see Kazim-Richards up close. First impressions of the player are that he is ok, obviously unused to our style of play but at least willing to take players on with his dribbling. He came close to grabbing a goal on his debut but found the timing a little out and couldn't get a strike away before the keeper intercepted. We never made any other chances and the Voulgaroi were truly ineffectual throughout so the match ended 0-2 away to us.
Aftermath
The win here kept the pressure on Poutanas Gioi (who truly screwed up against Levadiakos despite the referees best wishes) and takes us to within 2 points of the top of the league. The early goal killed off the opposition and ensured our win today. We can now look forward to our game against the Turkoi on Friday evening although I won't be available to give a report on that particular match.
Voulgaroi 0-2 Olympiakos
5' Abdoun
18' Mirallas
Olympiakos : Megyeri, Modesto, Mellberg, Papadopoulos, Marcano, Maniatis, Orbaiz, Abdoun, Ibagasa (61' Torosidis), Mirallas (77' Kazim-Richards), Djebbour
01:03
00:46
03:56
01:25
02:58
03:26
03:09
03:56
03:44
03:56