Olympiacos thrash OFI to close on PAOK
GREEK SUPERLEAGUE - MATCHDAY 22
| Olympiacos | 5 - 1 | OFI |
|---|---|---|
| Masouras 15' Hassan 36',46',60' Fortounis 40' |
Nabi 57' |
Ahmed Hassan hit a hat-trick as Olympiacos blitzed OFI Crete 5-1 at the Georgios Karaiskakis on Monday to cut the gap to SuperLeague leaders PAOK to seven points.
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Egyptian international Hassan was among the top performers in a one-sided Matchday 22 clash which left struggling OFI reeling, with Giorgos Masouras and Kostas Fortounis also among the goals for Pedro Martins’ Thrylos side.
Adil Nabi scored OFI’s consolation goal, but it was nothing more than just that in a match which Olympiacos dominated from start to finish to bounce back from their disappointing Europa League exit to Dynamo Kiev in midweek.
THE MATCH
Following their woes in Kiev, Olympiacos needed to get back to winning ways and capitalise on PAOK dropping points in Sunday in the 1-1 Thessaloniki derby draw.
And the home side came out of the blocks playing at a fast pace and were ahead after 15 minutes, with Masouras on the scoresheet.
Portuguese winger Daniel Podence was the architect of the goal, crossing superbly from the right to pick out the run of Masouras, who escaped his marker to nod home.
Olympiacos doubled their advantage in the 36th minute when a mistake by the OFI midfield allowed Fortounis to intercept possession and send Hassan through on goal, and the 25-year-old frontman finished well.
Four minutes later Podence was again the provider with a right-wing cross which Fortounis rose to head home unmarked with the visitors in disarray to make it 3-0 going into half-time.
Hassan then made it 4-0 in the first minute of the second half as Olympiacos threatened to run riot, but then OFI responded with a goal of their own in the 57th minute through a superb long-range strike from Englishman Nabi to make it 4-1.
A famous OFI fightback was not to be, however, as just three minutes later Hassan struck to complete his treble on the hour mark and seal another vital three-point haul for the home side, who edged closer to title rivals PAOK with eight matches to play.
Things are not so bright for OFI, who are still second from bottom in the second relegation spot, three points from safety.
STARTING LINEUPS
Olympiacos: 93 Jose Sa (GK), 4 Camara, 7 Fortounis, 12 Guilherme, 16 Masouras, 18 Hassan, 20 Meriah, 23 Koutris, 25 Miranda, 35 Torosidis, 56 Daniel Podence
OFI: 12 Strezos (GK), 4 Sakor, 16 Mihojevic, 21 Ricardo Vaz, 24 Papazoglou, 29 Mallado, 30 Nabi, 34 Korovesis, 47 Brown, 55 Neira, 79 Felipe Souza
HIGHLIGHTS: OLYMPIACOS - OFI
