Top four recover from Greek tragedies in Europe – Women’s A1

February 16, 2023

Photo: KOE.

Matchday 15 was an important stepping stone for the top four teams in the division, all of whom lost in Europe at the weekend and were desperate to get back to winning ways.

Olympiacos were out-thought and outplayed by Mataro at home in the Champions League on Saturday, but they bossed their domestic opponents in this matchday, beating AEK 14-1. Glyfada, who also suffered a first leg Champions League defeat, put on an excellent away performance in Peristeri (13-6).

Meanwhile, Vouliagmeni’s participation in Europe is terminal after crashing out in their Euro Cup quarter-final on penalties to Eger. They bounced back, beating Panionios by seven goals (14-7). Ethnikos, like Vouliagmeni, also bowed out of the Euro Cup, but didn’t slip up against PAOK (10-4).

Peristeri SC 6 – 13 ANO Glyfada (1-4, 2-4, 3-1, 0-4)

Peristeri: C. Zafiraki, A. Kolitsopoulou 2, S. Fragaki, E. Grozopoulou 1, C. Apostolidou 1, D. Konstantopoulou, E. Loukopoulou, E. Berikou 2, P. Petta, D. Bekri, V. Betsi, M. Gotzia, S. Fragouli, A. Papasifaki, A. Kikidou.

Glyfada: E. Karytsa, P. Ninou 1, T. Moustakaria 3, I. Wolves 1, E. Grigoropoulou 1, I. Ninou 2, E. Antoniadi 3, I. Kanellopoulou, I. Stavridou, E. Fountontou 2, L. Katsoni, K. Iliakopoulou, R. Kakaidi, A. Madenoglou.

Glyfada returned to A1 action after a narrow defeat in the Champions League with a deserved 13-6 victory over Peristeri.

The match saw the expected dominance from Glyfada, with hat-tricks from both Thomais Moustakaria and Eleni Antoniadi.

Although Theo Andreakos’s line-up featured young players to cover for absences, such as Ilse Koolhaas, Glyfada were stronger throughout the match.

Peristeri attempted to mount a comeback in the third quarter, narrowing the score to 9-6. However, four consecutive goals from Glyfada secured their tenth win of the season and maintained their top-four position.

Peristeri’s struggles continued, as they sit second from the bottom

AEK 1 – 14 Olympiacos (0-6, 0-5, 1-2, 0-1)

AEK: D. Nigro, K. McKenty, E. Georgiou, H. Biniari, A. Kalaitzis, A. Gilla, A. Frangelaki, E. Roumeliotis, E. Liapaki, Dassiou 1, K. Michailidou

Olympiacos: C. Diamantopoulou, E. Plevritou, I. Chydirioti 1, N. Eleftheriadou 1, F. Tricha 1, E. Xenaki 1, C. Siouti, M. Plevritou, S. Tornarou 2, V. Plevritou 2, S. Santa 2, M. Myriokefalitaki 3, I. Stamatopoulou, Z. Tjortzakaki 1.

After suffering their first loss of the season in the Champions League last weekend, Olympiacos put on a commanding performance to secure an impressive 14-1 victory over AEK.

Maria Myriokefalitaki was the star striker for Olympiacos, scoring a hat-trick, while Sofia Tornarou, the youngest Plevritou, and Stefania Santa each netted two goals.

Aleksandar Ciric’s ‘Red-Whites’ made an emphatic start to the match, taking a commanding 6-0 lead by the end of the first period, with Myriokefalitaki and Zoe Tjortzakaki each scoring two goals, and Vasiliki Plevritou, Stefania Santa, and Nikoleta Eleftheriadou contributing one goal each.

The second period saw Olympiakos continue their dominance, scoring five more goals to extend their lead to 11-0.

While AEK attempted to break through Olympiakos’ solid defence, the team remained firmly in control, with the only goal for AEK coming at the start of the third quarter, courtesy of Maria Dassiou.

Olympiakos sealed their impressive 15th consecutive league victory in the final period, with Chydirioti adding the final goal to make it 14-1.

AEK have now gone four games without taking points.

Ethnikos 10 – 4 PAOK (4-1, 1-0, 2-3, 3-0)

Ethnikos: E. Sotireli, A. Karampetsou, M. Borisova 1, V. Laskaridou, I. Kontoni 2, E. Beta, F. Chatzikyriakaki, A. Benekou 1, M. Rakitzi 1, E. Kanetidou 1, I. Benekou, C. Andrews 2, A. Bekri, E. Katsimpri 2, A. Klapsianou.

PAOK: V. Mouratidou, A. Bikou, E. Pustinikova, E. Tzelepi, M. Karypidou 1, I. Paraskevopoulou, P. Graikou, A. Akilbaiyeva, D. Fragia, C. Dona-Tsiaka, V. Niarhakou 1, A. Tzourka, I. Karypidou 2.

While Ethnikos are still healing from a nasty Euro Cup exit at the weekend, they had no trouble continuing to make progress in the Greek league, with a 10-4 victory over the visiting PAOK.

PAOK struggled to find the back of the net in the first half, managing to score just one goal. Ethnikos, thanks to two scores each by Charlize Andrews and Ioulia Kontoni, and a single strike by Eleni Kanetidou, led 5-1 at the break.

Meanwhile, Ethnikos steadily held onto a lead, dominating proceedings with at least a three goal cushion at all times. As the clock ticked on, Stefanos Leandros’ team kicked into high gear, pulling off an impressive 4-0 run that left PAOK in the dust.

The win ends a disappointing few weeks, in which the Blue Whites lost in the league to Glyfada, and were then knocked out of the Euro Cup by UVSE at the weekend. The Piraeus Blues, however, still sit third in the A1, ahead of a tough battle with Vouliagmeni at the weekend.

Panionios GSS 7 – 14 NC Vouliagmeni (2-6, 1-4, 0-2, 4-2)

Panionios: A. Mitsou, P. Casey, I. Mavrotas 2, M. Bogachenko, A. Kotsafti 1, M. Mastrokallou, M. Thomopoulou 1, E. Loudis, Kotsia 1, A. Loudis, D. Papanastasiou 2, A. Papanastasiou, L. Mavrotas, A. Keladiti,

Vouliagmeni: M. Kotsioni, S. Kaifa 1, D. Kalogeropoulou 1, E. Elliniadi 1, A. Giannopoulou 1, A. Ridge 5, E. Tankeeva 1, K. Stratidaki, M. Nikolaou, M. Mimidi 3, F. Angelidi 1, E. Patras, E. Markatseli, N. Krassa.

In a dominant performance, Vouliagmeni secured a 14-7 victory over Panionios in the Greek capital.

Following a heart-wrenching penalty-shootout exit from the Euro Cup last weekend, it could have been understandable for Kiki Liosi’s team to carry that disappointment into this match. However, they showed remarkable resilience and put in a strong showing, with Amy Ridge leading the way with an impressive five goals.

The ‘Nautical Club’ wasted no time in establishing their dominance, taking a commanding 6-2 lead in the opening eight minutes of the game. They maintained control throughout the first half, leading by a seven goal margin at half-time – a margin they ended up winning by after thirty-two minutes.

Sitting comfortably in second place, Vouliagmeni now find themselves seven points ahead of Ethnikos, their closest rivals. They will take on the Blue-Whites in the next matchday, and with a win, they could extend their lead to an even more impressive ten points.