Atromitos begin life under Korakakis with win
SUPER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 11
New Atromitos coach Giorgos Korakakis began his tenure with a morale-boosting 2-1 home draw against OFI Crete at the Municipal Stadium of Peristeri on Sunday, while Asteras Tripolis and Volos shared the honors in a goalless draw..
Watch LIVE GREEK TV including full GREEK SPORTS coverage from AGONASport.com!
Korakakis took to the dugout in the wake of the club sacking Giannis Anastasiou over the international break, and his charges looked eager to impress with striker Giorgos Manousos giving the hosts a third-minute lead with a clinical finish following an error by the OFI defence.
But Korakakis did not have the easiest of debuts against an OFI side who have impressed in the first few months of the season, and Englishman Adil Nabi equalised for the Cretans after 21 minutes with a powerful shot following good work from Lisandro Semedo.
OFI went on to miss several chances to clinch what would have been a deserved away win, and Atromitos took advantage to score a late, late winner in the fifth minute of added time through Petros Giakoumakis.
It was a particularly competitive encounter, featuring two clubs who will certainly have their eyes on a top six place this season. OFI played the more fluid football and looked the most likely to pinch a victory, but Semedo was denied by Balasz Megyeri’s left post in the 72nd minute after being played in by Juan Neira, while in the third minute of added time Paschalis Staikos was thwarted by Megyeri.
In the end OFI were to pay dearly for those misses as the home side launched a desperate final offensive and grabbed the winning goal in the last seconds when substitute Giakoumakis prodded home Clark N’Sikulu’s assist.
The result lifted Atromitos up three places to eighth spot with 14 points, while fourth-placed OFI, who lost for the second match in a row, remain on 16 points behind third-placed AEK, who were in action later in the evening against Aris.
HIGHLIGHTS
Asteras draw with Volos in Tripolis
Meanwhile in Tripolis, Asteras failed to get themselves a win to ease their worries down in the lower reaches of the table.
Borja Jimenez’s team dominated possession for long spells in a match played in difficult conditions with torrential rain pouring down, but clear scoring chances were few and far between.
Asteras’ best chance came five minutes before half-time when Eneko Jauregi rose highest to head goalwards, only to see his effort flash narrowly wide of the post.
Volos, who began the season brightly but have struggled in recent weeks, could just not hang onto possession long enough to build any meaningful attacks. In fact, it took the Magnesia side 48 minutes to register a goal threat, when Fernando Rafael Joao send a snapshot wide of the post.
HIGHLIGHTS
