The top two sides from the regular season both took victories in their first play-off finals in the women’s Greek League yesterday (4th May).
Olympiacos, who are yet to falter in domestic competition, proved too good for Glyfada, taking a 11-6 at the Papastrateo swimming pool. The other Piraeus-based side, Ethnikos, had less joy, falling by a single goal in Vouliagmeni (14-13).
Both Olympiacos and Vouliagmeni are now only one-step away from reaching the championship final, with the teams only needing two wins to progress from the semi-finals. Should these two teams meet in the championship game, the women’s league would mirror the men’s competition, in which Olympiacos and Vouliagmeni will compete for the title.
2022/2023 Greek League, Play-offs, Semi-finals
Olympiacos 11 – 6 ANO Glyfada (2-1, 4-1, 3-3, 2-1)
Olympiacos: C. Diamantopoulou, E. Plevritou 1, I. Chydirioti 2, N. Eleftheriadou, F. Tricha, E. Xenaki 3, C. Siouti, M. Plevritou, S. Santa 1, V. Plevritou 2, K. Christmas, M. Myriokefalitaki 1, I. Stamatopoulou, Z. Tjortzakaki 1, D. Drakotou.
Glyfada: E. Karytsa, P. Ninou 1, T. Moustakaria, I. Wolves 2, E. Grigoropoulou, I. Ninou 1, E. Antoniadis, I. Kanellopoulou, I. Koolhaas 2, E. Fountontou, L. Katsoni, S. Kontogianni, K. Iliakopoulou, R. Kakaidi.
NC Vouliagmeni 14 – 13 Ethnikos (2-4, 6-4, 4-4, 2-1)
Vouliagmeni: M. Kotsioni, S. Kaifa 2, D. Kalogeropoulou, E. Elliniadi 4, A. Giannopoulou 3, A. Ridge 1, E. Wright 2, K. Stratidaki 1, F. Andreadi, M. Mimidis, F. Angelidis 1, E. Patras, E. Markatseli, N. Krassa.
Ethnikos: E. Sotireli, A. Karampetsou 2, M. Borisova 2, V. Laskaridou, I. Kontoni, E. Beta, F. Chatzikyriakaki 2, A.. Benekou, M. Rakitzi, E. Kanetidou 4, I. Benekou, C. Andrews 3, A. Bekri, E. Katsimpri, A. Klapsianou.
Olympiacos has taken a significant step towards securing a place in the finals of the Greek League with a convincing 11-6 victory over Glafada in the first semi-final match.
In a meeting of last season’s top-two, the Red-White showed their quality in the match, accruing a decent lead in the first half (6-2) and maintaining a commanding pace for the rest of the match. Eleni Xenaki played a pivotal role for Olympiacos, scoring a hat-trick from the 2-metre mark. Aleksandar Ciric’s side’s impressively clinical display keeps them on track to extend their already impressive record of nine consecutive championship titles.
Meanwhile, there was a much tighter contest taking place in Vouliagmeni, as the Nautical Club snatched a late victory over Ethnikos Piraeus to win by one goal (14-13).
Despite taking an early 4-0 lead, Ethnikos Piraeus will rue their missed opportunities to secure a win on the Aegean coast. Vouliagmeni gradually found their rhythm and the game remained a close affair with both sides enjoying decent spells throughout.
In the end, it was a former player of Ethnikos, Eleni Elliniadi, who proved to be the difference-maker, scoring her fourth and decisive goal with less than two minutes remaining on the clock. A win for Vouliagmeni in the return fixture on the weekend will be enough to send them to the finals.
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