Unlucky Olympiacos bow out in Wolverhampton
 

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE LAST 16 (LEG 2)

Despite dominating long periods of the game, Olympiacos came up short against Wolverhampton Wanderers in England, losing 0-1 to bow out of the UEFA Europa League in the Round of 16.

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Olympiacos’ memorable European journey is over. Displaying plenty of fight, the Greek champions boasted the majority of possession and carved out several chances at Molineux, but an awful mistake from replacement goalkeeper Bobby Allain, a marginal offside call and wasteful finishing resulted in a bitter 0-1 defeat on the night and a 1-2 aggregate loss.

Raul Jimenez scored the only goal for Wolves in the ninth minute of play from the penalty spot.

Wolves will now prepare to face Sevilla in the Europa League quarter-finals. Olympiacos, for their part, will return to continental action in the 2020/2021 UEFA Champions League qualifiers in September.

THE MATCH

Wolves made a quick start. Inside the opening two minutes, Jimenez came close to an opener for the hosts, flashing a looping drive wide of the right post with Allain scrambling to get across in time.

Nevertheless, not long later, Wolves would score their go-ahead goal.

Taking a heavy touch, Allain allowed Daniel Podence to barge him off the ball, and the replacement goalkeeper was subsequently penalised for bundling the latter over. Jimenez calmly stepped up to the mark for Wolves to slot the ensuing penalty into the right corner.

Reacting well, the Greeks almost got back on level terms 10 minutes after conceding, but Konstantinos Tsimikas’ wicked shot was fantastically stopped by Rui Patricio’s outstretched hand.

To their credit, Olympiacos rapidly took control of proceedings, and they were desperately unlucky again not to equalise in the 29th minute.

After receiving an intelligent pass from Youssef El Arabi, Mohamed Camara cooly passed the ball beyond Patricio, but the goal was disallowed for an incredibly tight offside decision against the former.

El Arabi passed up a great opportunity of his own at the start of the second half as he failed to make solid contact with an inviting cross from the right wing. The prolific Moroccan striker felt he had been pushed in the back when jumping for the ball.

Requiring goals, Olympiacos began to press with more intensity in Wolverhampton as the second stanza progressed, but Wolves did have chances of their own on the counter. Allain regained face for the Erythrolefki by denying Podence with a superb fingertip save.

Wolves then somehow contrived to tap the ball wide of the gaping net following the subsequent corner.

Pedro Martins introduced Ahmed Hassan as the second striker alongside El Arabi in the 65th minute. Moments after that positive substitution, El Arabi came agonisingly close for Olympiacos, whipping his effort into the side netting after Kostas Fortounis had intelligently picked him out.

For all of their promising attacking play, Olympiacos were committing the odd defensive mistake, and Ousseynou Ba was relieved to see Diogo Jota fluff his lines after carelessly presenting him with the ball.

Olympiacos should have equalised in the 81st minute. Connecting with a perfect cross from the left flank, Hassan looked sure to score at close range, but his powerful header was wonderfully pushed aside by Patricio.

Guilherme had earlier flashed a curling drive inches over the bar.

The visitors threw everything at Wolves in the concluding minutes. However, they couldn’t find that elusive goal, with Omar Elabdellaoui going closest as he whacked the ball off target from a good position.

THE TEAMS

Wolves: Patricio, Boly, Coady, Saiss, Neves, Moutinho, Neves, Doherty, Jonny (Vinagre 17’), Traore (Jota 57’), Podence (Dendoncker 71’), Jimenez.

Olympiacos: Allain, Tsimikas, Cisse, Ba, Elabdellaoui, Bouchalakis (Fortounis 46’), Guilherme (Cafu 82’), Camara (Hassan 65’), Valbuena, Masouras (Randjelovic 46’), El Arabi.

HIGHLIGHTS

Image Source: sport-fm.gr

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