Red Star pay the penalty as Olympiacos triumph
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - GROUP B (MATCHDAY 6)
Youssef El Arabi was the hero for Olympiacos, scoring a late penalty to lead the Piraeus giants to a 1-0 victory over Red Star Belgrade in their final Champions League Group B contest at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium on Wednesday - a result which booked the Thrylos a place in the Europa League at the expense of their Serbian opponents.
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Before El Arabi’s 87th-minute salvo, Olympiacos had wasted a host of chances, registering over 20 attempts on goal, with the second half of this Matchday 6 clash, in particular, being a one-sided affair.
But, after being frustrated by a combination of visiting goalkeeper Milan Borjan, who made a string of fine saves, and poor finishing, they were literally handed the chance to win it when Red Star substitute Jander handled a cross bound for Omar at the back post.
El Arabi put away the spot-kick, and Olympiacos can now look forward to taking part in the Round of 32 in the Europa League after finishing third in the group with four points behind Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur. Red Star finished fourth with three points.
THE MATCH
Olympiacos came into what was essentially a final to decide which team goes into the Europa League on the back of a 1-1 draw with PAOK.
Only a victory would do for Pedro Martins’ side against their Serbian opponents to ensure they finish third in Group B and clinch a place in the Europa League Round of 32. Red Star, meanwhile, only needed to avoid defeat to ensure they go through.
It all made for a tense evening in rain-soaked Athens, which was hit by heavy thunderstorms all afternoon. Passions were running high, though in a friendly manner considering the “brotherhood” relationship between the two clubs’ supporters.
An incredible atmosphere greeted the teams at kickoff, with Olympiacos’ Gate 7 Ultras lifting a huge banner depicting the two groups of fans marching together, with an impressive flag display to match.
The home side looked to get on the front foot early on, but it was the visitors who got themselves the first clear sight of goal after five minutes when a rampaging run down the right by Marko Gobeljić ended with him teeing up Aleksa Vukanović. Fortunately for Olympiacos, the Red Star striker skied his effort over the crossbar.
Olympiacos began to impose themselves as the game wore on, and big defender Ruben Semedo headed just over the bar from a Giorgos Masouras free-kick on 18 minutes. Next, Guilherme was given time and space to pick his spot from the edge of the penalty area, but his tame effort was easily gathered by Borjan.
The best chance of the half fell to Morrocan striker El Arabi, who headed wastefully over the crossbar from six yards out in an unmarked position following Omar’s superb right-wing cross.
Then came a crucial moment on 40 minutes when Marko Marin was sent clean through and goal and was chopped down in the box by Guilherme. The referee pointed to the spot, and the stage was set for the visitors to take the lead. But Tomané fluffed his lines and smashed his penalty against the crossbar.
Olympiacos continued to control the lion’s share of possession into the second half, and their best chance to that point came on the hour mark when a brilliant cross from the left by Kostas Tsimikas was headed against the post by El Arabi.
The home side were beginning to lay siege to the visitors’ goal, and Podence was then next to pass up a golden chance to make it 1-0 three minutes later when he turned a defender in the box to get a free shot on goal only to be thwarted by a sprawling save from the impressive Borjan.
Podence was guilty of poor finishing again with 20 minutes left when the ball fell to him after another promising attack from the home side, with the Portuguese winger scuffing his effort wide of the right post.
Red Star resorted to time-wasting tactics as the clock ticked down, with player after player going down complaining of cramp or other injury problems. But Olympiacos kept plugging away, and five minutes left their opportunity came when Red Star substitute Jander inexplicably handballed.
El Arabi stepped up with an interesting curved run-up and slotted the ball past Borjan, sending the Red Star keeper the wrong way to finally break the deadlock and send the Olympiacos fans into raptures.
STARTING LINEUPS
Olympiacos: 1 José Sá (GK), 3 Semedo, 4 Camara, 5 Bouchalakis, 8 Guilherme, 10 Podence, 11 El Arabi, 14 Elabdellaoui ©, 19 Masouras, 20 Meriah, 21 Tsimikas
Red Star: 82 Borjan (GK), 5 Degenek, 8 Ivanić, 10 Marin ©, 11 García, 17 Tomané, 19 Milunović, 20 N. Petrović, 23 Rodić, 77 Gobeljić, 92 Vukanović
HIGHLIGHTS
