Olympiacos are the 2022 Super Cup Champions, retaining their title from last season, after bettering Piraeus rivals Ethnikos, 11-4.
Double scores from Kyra Christmas and Nikoleta Eleftheriadou led the way for last season’s quadruple winning side. Eleftheriadou in particular was immense, with two goals, and two assists.
Ethnikos were always the underdogs in this game, but they fought valiantly. Their goalkeeper and captain, Eleni Sotireli, made several crucial saves throughout the game, and their defence held as well as most teams who have come up against Olympiacos. In offence, though, Ethnikos were plagued by too many turnovers, and didn’t convert anything in their extra-player situations.
Olympiacos played a very pragmatic defensive game. Aleksandar Ciric’s side made it impossible for Ethnikos to play through the lines, and gain any attacking momentum. The Greek champions were not at their best, but defended well. In attack, with the quality they had, they were able to carve their opponents open on a number of occasions.
With the victory, Olympiacos became the third team to retain the honour; with fellow Greeks Vouliagmeni winning the title back to back in 2009 and 2010, while Sabadell did the same in 2013 and 2014.
The triumph reinforces the dominance that Olympiacos are showing at present, ending the year unbeaten in all competitions in the 2022/23 season.
Olympiacos 11 – 4 Ethnikos (3-1, 2-1, 2-1, 4-1)
Ethnikos: E. Sotireli, A. Krampetsou, M. Borisova, V. Laskaridou, E. Katsimpri, F. Chatzikyriaki, A. Benekou, 2 M. Rakintzi, E. Kanetidou 2, I. Benekou, C. Andrews, A. Bekri
Olympiacos: C. Diamantopoulou, S. Santa, 1 I. Chydirioti, 1 N. Eleftheriadou 2, F. Tricha, E. Xenaki 1, C. Siouti 1, M. Plevritou, 1 S. Tornarou 1, V. Plevritou 1, K. Christmas 2, M. Myriokefalitaki, I. Stamatopoulou
Unlocking the Olympiacos defence in the first quarter, as it turned out, required something extraordinary, and Eleni Kanetidou’s exquisite lob, which grazed the crossbar before crossing the goal line, gave Ethnikos an unexpected lead.
Ethnikos then were encouraged when their captain in goal, Eleni Sotireli, made an excellent penalty save from Kyra Christmas.
Ethnikos took the lead early on, but Olympiacos’s brilliant attacking play soon put them on their heels. Despite missing the penalty, Kyra Christmas netted twice from the right wing, while Nikoleta Eleftheriadou’s shot from the left hit the post before sneaking past Ethnikos keeper Sotireli.
In the second quarter, the game followed a similar pattern, although Ethnikos tightened up defensively. Maria Rakintzi initially scored well with a back post prod from Ariadni Karampetsou’s fantastic pass, but the reigning Greek and European Champions found a way through, with Vasiliki Plevritou firing home well after good work by Nikoleta Eleftheriadou (5-2).
Stefanos Leandros’ side showed more intent in the third period, as you would expect from the trailing team. However, they couldn’t find a way to close the gap between them and their rivals.
Olympiacos captain,Margarita Plevritou, scored with a magnificent long-range shot that landed in the upper right corner. With a beautiful lob to the right, Eleni Kanetidou of Ethnikos scored a replica of her previous goal. However, Olympiacos entered the fourth quarter with a four-goal advantage, with Sofia Tournarou completing a deft right-side offensive move.
While Ethnikos scored the first goal in the fourth quarter via Alkistis Benekou, Olympiacos dispatched its opponents with brutal efficiency. Chydirioti added a goal on the right wing, while Eleftheriadou finished well on the left wing during a counterattack. The Red-Whites reached double digits on a shot by Vasiliki Plevritou, and Christina Siouti scored the game’s final goal from a player-advantaged central position.
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