The Greek League started today. A big derby was played on Day 1. The top two Greek teams faced off.
Titleholder Olympiacos hosted its archrival Vouliagmeni.
Vouliagmeni recorded an 8:7 win, and Olympiacos suffered its first loss in the regular season of the Greek League after 177 games.
In April 2012, the most decorated Greek club suffered its previous regular-season loss. Eight years ago, Vouliagmeni managed to beat Olympiacos. In that season, Vouliagmeni won the Greek League and the Greek Cup.
2020/21 Greek League, Day 1
Olympiacos – Vouliagmeni 7:8 (0:1, 0:1, 2:4, 5:2)
Chios – Apollon Smyrnis 4:18 (0:5, 1:4, 2:3, 1:6)
Palaio Faliro – ΑΕΚ 10:10 (3:4, 0:2, 2:2, 5:2)
Glyfada – Ydraikos 7:9 (2:3, 1:2, 3:3, 1:1)
PAOK – Ethnikos 11:13 (2:2, 2:4, 4:4, 3:3)
Volos – Chania 8:9 (0:2, 2:4, 3:2, 3:1)
Peristeri – Panionios 7:6 (1:1, 3:0, 2:1, 1:4)
In the past few seasons, Olympiacos dominated the Greek League and the National Cup. But, most of the Greek clubs were very active in the transfer market this summer. Some of the clubs entered the new season stronger. Several clubs had to say goodbye to their big stars. Olympiacos is in this second group.
Many players left Olympiacos. The club signed contracts with several good reinforcements. But, the new team isn’t at the same level as the 2019/20 squad. On the other side, Vouliagmeni is stronger than it was in the past season. Emmanouil Mylonakis, one of the best Greek players of the 21st century, moved from Olympiacos to Vouliagmeni. Luka Lozina arrived from Jug Dubrovnik, etc.
Vouliagmeni’s defense played excellently in the first half. After the second quarter, the visitors led 2:0. In the 2nd minute of the third period, Vouliagmeni went 3:0 up. Shortly after, Olympiacos finally got on the scoreboard. Genidounias converted a penalty for 1:3. But, Vouliagmeni increased its lead before the last break. The visitors entered the last quarter with a 6:2 advantage. In the middle of the third quarter, Olympiacos coach Theodoris Vlachos was red-carded because of the protest against the referee’s decision, and he had to go to the stands.
It seemed that Vouliagmeni secured the win. But, Olympiacos was able to come back. The hosts opened the fourth period with four consecutive goals and equalized -6:6 in the 29th minute. Gkiouvetsis gave Vouliagmeni a 7:6 lead (03:13 before the end). Olympiacos captain Mourikis leveled the score – 7:7 with 02:34 remaining on the clock. However, Vouliagmeni had the last laugh. Alafragakis responded immediately after Mourikis’s goal. The visitors re-earned a lead (8:7).
In the last two minutes, there were no goals. A minute and a half from the end, Olympacos had a great chance to equalize. The hosts had a penalty shot, but the visitors’ goalie Georgatos saved a shot from Dervisis.
Scorers for Vouliagmeni:Kourouvanis 2, Torulos 2, Gkiouvetsis 1, Alafrangis 1, Halyvopoulos 1, Afroudakis 1. Olympiacos: Mourikis 2, Daube 1, Genidounias 1, Kakaris 1, Dervisis 1, Kapotsis 1.
Apollon Smyrnis trashed Chios 18:4. Alexandros Gounas, who arrived at Apollon from Olympiacos, led the winning side with six goals. Alex Bowen, the newcomer from Mladost, added three. Olympic champion Stefan Mitrovic (one of the players who left Olympiacos)scored two goals, etc.
AEK, the debutant in the A1 Greek League, earned a point in the match against Palaio Faliro (10:10). Before the last period, AEK led 8:5, but Palaio Faliro dominated the fourth quarter and went in front (10:9). Just 27 seconds before the end, Nikola Vukcevic scored an equalizer from a penalty shot. AEK’s Nikola Radjen was the best scorer of the match, with four goals.
