Asteras pull off stunning turnaround to make Europa League
Defying the odds, Asteras Tripolis pipped Xanthi to the post in the battle to qualify for the UEFA Europa League, claiming fifth place in the Super League after a rough start. AGONAsport takes a look back at the key moments in the club’s memorable campaign.
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Asteras were relegation fodder during the opening rounds of the 2017/2018 Super League season, struggling to pick up points and flattering to deceive. Nevertheless, slowly but surely the Tripoli bandwagon gained pace, eventually embarking on a superb run-in to overhaul a disappointed Xanthi and claim a a Europa League berth in dramatic fashion. Despite having little resources at hand, 53-year old boss Savvas Pantelidis managed to get the best out of his troops, keeping the belief within the squad and upsetting some of the big guns along the way. In connection with Asteras’ stunning turnaround from facing the drop to European contenders, we analyse the crucial moments in the season:
19/08/2017, Asteras Tripolis - PAS Giannina - 1:2
The season began with a home fixture against modest PAS Giannina, a game which Asteras would have hoped to gain a positive result from. However, David Lopez Nadales and Konstantinos Mavropanos (the young Arsenal prospect) had other plans, scoring twice to give PAS a 2:0 lead. Nikos Kaltsas replied in the second half, but their Ioannina opponents retained their advantage.
09/09/2017, Asteras Tripolis - Lamia - 1:3
Unfortunately for Asteras fans, their team’s awful form continued into September. This time, Asteras contrived to lose a second successive Super League fixture in Tripoli, succumbing to Lamia 1:3. Triantafyllos Pasalidis grabbed a consolation after Lamia’s Suleiman Omo, Piti and Wanderson has ended the game as a contest.
16/09/2017, Olympiacos - Asteras Tripolis - 1:1
What could be the worst possible scenario for a team languishing at the bottom? That’s right, a trip to the Karaiskakis Stadium. Asteras were expected to be rolled over by Olympiacos, but the off-colour Piraeus outfit were outplayed by Tripoli, only saving a point at the death when Uros Djurdjevic converted a controversial penalty. Michalis Manias had earlier also netted from the spot.
01/10/2017, Asteras Tripolis - AEK - 2:0
In early October, Asteras earned their first major victory of the season, defeating table topping AEK Athens 2:0 in front of their home support. In truth, they fully deserved their win, creating plenty of chances against an AEK side still basking in the glory of beating Olympiacos. Juan Munafo and Manias hit the jackpot in an exciting second half.
04/11/2017, Asteras Tripolis - Panathinaikos - 1:0
Asteras had to dig deep against Panathinaikos in Tripoli, grabbing a tense 1:0 victory over the floundering Athenian giants with Munafo grabbing the winner in the dying moments. Incredibly, this was the start of an eight-game unbeaten streak for Asteras, as the players suddenly found their groove.
19/11/2017, Platanias - Asteras Tripolis - 0:3
On November 19, the maiden road victory of the season was finally registered, with Asteras thrashing lowly Platanias in Chania. Cedric Gondo, Pasalidis and Yevhen Budnik got themselves on the scoresheet, blowing away a weak Platanias team.
21/08/2018, Lamia - Asteras Tripolis - 1:0
Just like on matchday three, Lamia were superior to Asteras, seeing off the opposition 1:0 at their home ground with a late goal scored by Alexandros Karagiannis. Incidentally, this was the match which ended Asteras’ run of eight consecutive games without defeat.
28/01/2018, Asteras Tripolis - Olympiacos - 1:1
Towards the end of January, 44-time Greek champions Olympiacos travelled to Tripoli hungry for making amends for the result in Piraeus, but Asteras refused to give them an easy ride. Walter Iglesias glanced in an opener for Asteras after 20 minutes, setting the tone for an excellent showing by his team. Karim Ansarifard buried a penalty to make it 1:1, but Olympiacos failed to find that crucial second marker.
04/03/2018, Asteras Tripolis - PAOK - 3:2
Was this a candidate for game of the season? Surely it has to be up there. In an unbelievable turn of events, Asteras got the better of title chasing PAOK 3:2, winning the match with a goal in the eighth minute of stoppage time from Iglesias. Aleksandar Prijovic had only just equalised for PAOK, however Asteras stole the three points in the next attack. Giorgos Kyriakopoulos, Martin Tonso and Djalma Campos were the other scorers.
10/03/2018, Panathinaikos - Asteras Tripolis - 1:1
By this time, the Europa League was beginning to become a realistic goal. Next week, Asteras played guests to Panathinaikos at the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium, hanging on to draw 1:1 and take a valuable point back to Tripoli. Michalis Manias had his marker cancelled out by Panathinaikos’ Finnish midfielder Robin Lod.
14/04/2018, Levadiakos - Asteras Tripolis - 1:0
Europe could be seen over the horizon, but Asteras slipped up at Levadiakos, losing 0:1 to a goal by Souleymane Sawadogo in Levadia. Now, in order to qualify for the Europa League, Asteras had to win the remaining three matches and hope Xanthi drop points.
29/04/2018, Asteras Tripolis - Apollon Smyrnis - 2:1
It was all going wrong against Apollon Smyrnis on April 29. Stavros Tsoukalas broke the deadlock after 64 minutes for Apollon, leaving Asteras with very little time to pull off a comeback and keep the European dream alive. They managed to do it though, rising back from the dead with two goals from Giannis Kotsiras and Kaltsas.
06/05/2018, Panetolikos - Asteras Tripolis - 0:2
In the concluding Super League match, fifth place and a place in the Europa League was secured in Agrinio. Iglesias and Manias scored a goal each to beat Panetolikos and return to continental competition after a three-year hiatus.
