A fantastic qualification earned in Italy for the Olympiacos U-19 team following their away 1-3 win to Italian champion Lecce for the Domestic Champions Path stage of the UEFA Youth League; our side featured in this competition as last season’s Super League U19 winner.
First leg ended with the same scoreline, 3-1, in Rentis and now they are to face Kabala in a two-legged tie in order to move on in this European tournament.
The match started in the best possible way for Sotirios Sylaidopoulos squad, since, in 6’, Ch. Kostoulas was taken down by the opponent’s goalkeeper and a penalty was called. Mouzakitis took on the penalty kick and made it 0-1.
The Italians had a great chance to level things in 16’, but Sina delivered an amazing save to Bournete’s header.
It was 3 minutes later, in 19’, when Prekates turned the ball into the opponent’s penalty area, their defenders originally deflected the ball away, but K. Kostoulas delivered a powerful volley to beat Lampinen for the first half’s final scoreline of 0-2.
After the break, the Italian champions piled up the pressure and managed to cut the deficit thanks to a diagonal shot by Helm in 60′. Just a few minutes later, Papakanellos dribbled past his marksmen, took the shot from the right side, but Lampinen parried the ball.
In 75′, while Lecce was making an effort to convert mainly by means of set pieces, Ch. Kostoulas dribbled past 2 defenders and, in immaculate style, netted it through the goalkeeper’s narrow angle for the match’s final scoreline, 1-3.
Then, the Italians tried to cut the lead and create good scoring chances, but Olympiacos defense delivered in full and faced no real threats.
As a result, Olympiacos qualified to the tournament’s next stage and are to play against Kabala, with their first leg to be played on November 8th in Azerbaijan.
