The sixth round of the women’s Greek A1 saw no major upsets, with most of the best teams winning by large margins.
However, Olympiacos won a major derby against Vouliagmeni, narrowly fending off the Nautical Club’s late comeback.
Other than that, Alimos tied Olympiacos in points after a convincing 15-8 victory over AEK. Both Alimos and Olympiacos have started the season with six consecutive victories.
Glyfada beat Patra by ten goals (17-7) while Ethnikos outclassed Peristeri 17-4. PAOK’s second victory of the season, a crucial 12-7 victory over Larissa, was made possible by a strong start to the game by the Thessalonians: while a strong finish was the key for Panionios against Rethymnou.
This weekend, three Greek teams will compete in Champions League matches. Vouliagmeni travel to Portugal to face CN Mataro, Olympic Nice, Pacence (H), and ZVL 1886, while Ethnikos need to face Dunaujvaros, Spandau 04 Berlin, SIS Roma (H), Ethnikos, and Mulhouse WP.
Glyfada, who will be hosting the Champions League preliminary round for the first time in the club’s history, invites De Zaan, CN Terrassa, Grand Nancy, and ZF Eger to the South Athens Riviera. As the title winners last season, Olympiacos will join from the next round.
NC Vouliagmeni 11 – 12 Olympiacos ( 2-2, 2-6, 4-3, 3-1)
Olympiacos: C. Diamantopoulou, E. Plevritou 1, I. Chydirioti 1, N. Eleftheriadou 1, F. Tricha 1, E. Xenaki 2, C. Siouti, M. Plevritou 1, S. Tornarou, V. Plevritou, K. Christmas 2, M. Myriokefalitaki 2, I. Stamatopoulou, S. Santa 1, D. Drakotou
Vouliagmeni: M. Kotsioni, T. Kaiafa, D. Kalogeropoulou, E. Elliniadi 2, A. Giannopoulou 1, A. Ridge 5, E. Tankeeva 2, M. Patra 1, K. Stratidaki, D. Andreadi, M. Mimidi, P. Angelidi, E. Patra, I. Markatseli, N. Krassa.
Olympiacos won a top-of-the-table match against NC Vouliagmeni, but they nearly threw the game away, as a second-half comeback by the hosts put them under pressure.
The reigning champions enjoyed a decent 8-4 lead at the half-time break, but a bit of arrogance crept into their game, which was capitalised on by Kiki Liosi’s side. Ultimately, though, Vouliagmeni couldn’t find an equaliser with ninety seconds to play.
While on the losing side, Aussie Stinger Amy Ridge followed up her excellent showing at the World League Super Finals with five scores in the game. The defeat is the first for the Nautical club this season.
NC Rethymnou 7 – 14 Panionios GSS (1-3, 2-1, 4-4, 0-6)
Rethymnou: M. Poulopoulou, D. Lampathaki, B. Doyle 2, K. Kyriakaki 3, E. Farmaki 1, N. Tsiougri, M. Zafiiraki, A. Sanchez 1, Z. Myriokefalitaki, S. Libitaki, A. Libitaki.
Panionios: A. Mitsou, P. Casey 1,I. Mavrota 3, S. Vaziou, A. Karagianni, M. Mastrokallou 1, M. Galiatsatou 1, E. Loudi 2, C. Kotsia 5, A. Loudi, D. Papanastasiou, A. Papanastasiou 1, C. Katsiu, M. Thomopoulou
Panionios defeated Rethymnou 14-7 this weekend, but the game ended in bizarre fashion, with Rethymnou collapsing spectacularly to guarantee victory for Tassos Papanastasiou’s squad.
The Naval club of Rethymnou trailed by only one goal heading into the final eight minutes of play, but the Crete-based team surrendered six goals in the final eight minutes of a game they would rather forget.
Five goals were scored by Cristina Kotsia for Panionios, who are currently fifth in the league.
ANO Glyfada 17 – 7 NE Patra (6-0, 5-0, 2-4, 4-3)
Glyfada: E. Karytsa, P. Ninou, T. , Moustakaria, I. Wolves 2, E. Grigoropoulou, I. Ninou 7, E. Antoniadi 1, I. Kanellopoulou 1, I. Koolhaas, E. Fountotou 3, L. Katsoni, S. Kontogianni 3, V. Tsiara, R. Kakidi, A. Madenoglou.
Patra: A. Giannakea, A. Androutseli 1, V. Zofoli, A. Anastasiou, E. Tsimara 1, M. Balatsa 1, M. Petasi, D. Kureta 1, O. Moirali, D. Kontakou, M. Dassiou 1, V. Niarhakou 1, L. Steenbeck, M. Kepenou, I. Rack 1.
Seven goals from Eirini Ninou contributed to Glyfada’s rout of Patra. Glyfada completed the mission by halftime, holding a commanding 11-0 lead at the break. Thodoris Adreakos’s team, which has now won two games on the spin, stays in third.
Patra have only won two of their first six games, but after facing Olympiacos, Alimos, and Glyfada, they have a favourable run of winnable games coming up: PAOK (H), Peristeri (H), and Larissa (A).
Ethnikos 17 – 4 Peristeri SC (2-1, 6-1, 4-0, 5-2)
Ethnikos: E. Sotireli, A. Karabetsou 1, M. Borisova 2, V. Laskaridou 2, I. Kontoni 1, S. Georgousi 1, F. Chatzikyriakaki 1, A. Benekou. 3, M. Rakintzi, E. Kanetidou, L. Benekou 1, C. Andrews 2, A. Bekri, E. Katsipri 3, S. Lalousi.
Peristeri: C. Zafeiraki, C. Fragaki, E. Grozopoulou, C. Apostolidou 1, D. Konstantopoulou 1, E. Loukopoulou, E. Berikou, P. Petta 1, D. Bekri, M. Kassari, M. Gotzia 1, A. Papasifaki, C. Gika.
Ethnikos outclassed Peristeri in the capital, with Stefano Leandros’ team taking a dominant 17-4 victory over the newly-promoted Peristeri.
The Blue-Whites piled on the goals, with multiple players scoring multiple times: Alkistis Benekou (three), Effrosyni Katspri (three), Maria Borisova (two), Charlize Andrews (two), and Vasiliki Laskaridou (two).
Ethnikos is currently fourth in the league, trailing Glyfada by one point and having played one game fewer.
Alimos NAC 15 – 8 AEK (5-1, 4-0, 4-5, 2-2)
Alimos: E. Lazaris, N. Chaldaiou 3, E. Kovasevic, N. Piovan 1, J. Lykothanasis, E. Patero 2, A. Asimaki 4, S. Logothetis 1, L. Mihailovic 1, M. Bitsakou. 1, E. Tsimara. 2, I. Helmi, M. Karagianni, D. Theofanopoulou, A. Marinou
AEK: D. Nigro, K. McKenty 4, M. Lelelei, E. Georgiou, H. Biniara, A. Kalaitzi, A. Gilla 1, A. Frangelaki, E. Roumeliotis 2, E. Liapaki, A. Peteinatou, C. Michailidou 1
Alimos continued their six-game winning streak with a dominant performance against AEK, making it appear as though they have been one of Greece’s best teams for years.
At halftime, Vangelis Pateros’s team had a 9-1 lead and had no intention of relinquishing it. Alexandra Asmiaki added four more goals to her impressive total, while Nefeli Chaldiaou, a youngster at the opposite end of the age spectrum, also had a fine game, scoring three times.
Alimos and Olympiacos share the same number of points (18), with the difference in goal differential (OLY:+79, ALI:+34) determining the league’s top two teams.
AEK have not yet won a game this season, and their lone point came against Rethymnou last weekend (9-9). Next weekend, they will face the formidable ANO Glyfada.
PAOK 12 – 7 NC Larissa (4-0, 3-3, 3-2, 2-2)
PAOK: E. Lerioti-Sykas, A. Bikou, E. Pustinikova 4, E. Tzelepi 2, M. Karypidou 1, I. Paraskeopoulos, P. Graikou 1, Lambrousi 1, D. Fragia 2, C. Dona-Tsiaka 1, E. Stogiou, A. Tauridou, A. Tzourka, I. Karypidou, A. Mahili
Larissa: A. Archontaki, A. Kokkinou, I. Touloumtzidou 3, V. Hasioti, D. Kalogianni, A. Safeti, A. Koltsida, G. Sakellariou, K. Rogers 1, T. Galanopoulou, M. Mastori, Clapperton 3, P. Andri
The Thessaloniki-based PAOK of Panagiotis Vergos secured a crucial three points against their southern rivals, NC Larissa.
The hosts jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the opening quarter, which ultimately proved decisive. Larissa awoke and fought valiantly, but was unable to make up the lost ground.
Evgenia Pustinova, a former player for Larissa and a Russian veteran, had a significant impact on the game by delivering four successful shots.
The second victory of the season propels PAOK past Larissa into eighth place. Larissa has lost their last three contests.
Next Fixtures (19th November)
NC Larissa vs Ethnikos
NE Patra vs PAOK
AEK vs ANO Glyfada
Panionios GSS vs Alimos NAC
Olympiacos vs NC Rethymnou
Peristeri SC vs NC Vouliagmeni
Standings
- Olympiacos – 6 – 18pts
- Alimos NAC – 6 – 18pts
- ANO Glyfada – 6 – 13pts
- Ethnikos – 5 – 12pts
- Panionios GSS – 6 – 12pts
- NC Vouliagmeni – 5 – 10pts
- NE Patra – 6 – 6pts
- PAOK – 6 – 6pts
- NC Larissa – 6 – 3pts
- Peristeri SC – 6 – 3pts
- NC Rethymnou – 6 – 1pts
- AEK – 6 – 1pts
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