The Olympiacos Youth team won a legendary qualification for the “16” of the UEFA Youth League against Inter’s U19 team, in the penalty shootout process, and are now expecting the opponent draw that will take place on Friday 09/02 in Nyon.
Full of passion and determination, the Legend’s young footballers were able to qualify over the Italian championship’s leader, Inter Milan, at a Youth level, despite having to play with one less footballer well before the end of the game, following Papakanellos’ elimination. The “red-and-whites,” especially after the elimination, were even more passionate on the pitch and achieved this great qualification.
The guests made a strong start and created good moments during the first 20 minutes, with both Kamate and Stankovic, without causing much worry to goalkeeper Sina. Olympiacos made a balanced game and were in control of the match, following a series of good opportunities for goals.
Initially, Mouzakitis committed a foul from the right in the 23’, Koutsidis got the header, but the ball went out.
Three minutes later, it was Ch. Kostoulas’ turn to threaten the opponent, without reaching the desired goal, following Papakanellos’ shoot.
The biggest moment of the first half for the “red-and-whites” was in the 36’. Mouzakitis “filled” the opponent’s area with a free kick, Inter’s goalkeeper made a misplaced jump, but Papakanellos’ shot went against the Italian team’s defence.
In the 40’ came the biggest opportunity for Inter Milan. Koki crossed from the left, Kamate moved along the ball’s path, but failed to score.
Olympiacos was better in the second half and defended their area, while creating numerous opportunities.
In the 65’, Koutsogoulas speeded passed anyone in his way and found himself in a shooting position, but his side-foot kick was weak, with Raimondi pushing the ball away. A little later, in the 70’, Olympiacos had two huge opportunities to open the score. Initially, Pnevmonidis made a side-foot kick to the opposite corner with Inter’s goalkeeper reacting appropriately, while seconds later, Mouzakitis gave a diagonal pass to Papakanellos, whose side-foot kick was blocked again by Inter’s goalkeeper.
Nonetheless, the game’s balance shifted in the 73’, when Papakanellos received a second yellow card and Olympiacos was left with 10 players.
Nevertheless, the team of Sotiris Silaidopoulos, withstood Inter’s pressure, was passionate and even had a great opportunity to win the victory during normal time.
Specifically, in the 88’, Ch. Kostoulas moved the ball smoothly from the centre to the opponent’s area, noticed Liatsikouras movement from the other side and made the pass, but the latter’s side-foot kick passed right by the post.
Thus, the match led to the penalty shootout, with no extra time, where the Legend achieved the qualification over Inter Milan, scoring in all penalties, while Koki sent the ball out.
Penalty Shootout:
1-0 Mouzakitis
1-1 Stankovic
2-1 Bakoulas
2-2 Di Maggio
3-2 Ch. Kostoulas
3-3 Owusu
4-3 Liatsikouras
4-4 Stante
5-4 Tanoulis
5-5 Sarr
6-5 K. Kostoulas
6-5 Cocchi shoot out
OLYMPIACOS (S. Silaidopoulos): Sina, Alafakis (84′ Dama), Koutsidis, Koutsogoulas (89′ Tanoulis), Mouzakitis, Ch. Kostoulas, Papakanellos, Pnevmonidis (78′ Liatsikouras), K. Kostoulas, Prekates, Bakoulas.
Inter (C. Chivu): Raimondi, Aidoo, Cocchi, Stankovic, Stabile (62′ Alexiou), Di Maggio, Sarr, Kamate (71′ Mosconi), Quieto (62′ Owusu), Berenbruch (85′ De Pieri), Stante.
