Olympiacos defeated Vouliagmeni in the first match of the finals of the playoffs Greek Championship.
The big rivals were neck and neck during almost three quarters of the game, played in Vouliagmeni’s pool. However, Olympiacos produced a 5:0 run in the last nine minutes for a convincing 11:6 victory.
This was the first Vouliagmeni’s defeat in the Greek Championship 2020/21 after 15 consecutive wins. Olympiacos took revenge for a 7:8 loss to Vouliagmeni in the first round of the regular season. But, a long final series is still far from the end.
Greek Championship, playoffs
Final (best-of-five)
First match
Vouliagmeni – Olympiacos 6:11 (3:3, 2:2, 1:3, 0:3)
Vouliagmeni: Gkiouvetsis 2, Lozina 2, Alafragkis 1, Kourovanis 1.
Olympiacos: Genidounias 4, Skoumpakis 2, Dervisis 2, Chrysospathis 2, Irving 1.
In the first half, the lead was changing constantly, but the difference between the teams was never larger than a goal. Olympiacos’ Konstantinos Genidounias opened the scoring in the third minute for 0:1. But, after that, Vouliagmeni dictated the pace and was taking the lead (2:1, 3:2, 4:3, 5:4). At halftime, the sides were tied at 5:5.
The first six minutes of the third quarter passed without a goal. Defenses dominated. Derivisis scored from a distance in the 22nd minute and put Olympiacos in front (6:5), but Luka Lozina replied to equalize – 6:6. However, the visitors scored two goals in the last minute of the quarter, and Olympiacos earned a 2-goal advantage (8:6) before the final quarter.
The fourth period was “a one-man show”. Konstantinos Genidounias played a leading role. He opened the quarter with an excellent shot from a distance and stretched the margin to three (9:6). Shortly after, he added a goal from a penalty shot. In the middle of the final quarter, Genidounias scored his third consecutive goal (fourth in a total) for 11:6. Olympiacos kept the big advantage until the final buzzer.
Olympiacos will be the host in the next match that will be played on Thursday.
For 3rd place (best-of-three)
First match
Apollon Smyrnis – Peristeri 8:6 (1:2, 2:1, 3:1, 2:2)
Apollon: Bowen 3, Moskov 2, Dermitzakis 1, Gounas 1, Solanakis 1.
Peristeri: Koukoumakis 2, Karountzos 1, Farmer 1, Gerakoudis 1, Tzortzis 1.
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