Under-17's also lift the trophy
One goal was enough – a goal from the aplty-named Mythos (who unfortunately got injured shortly afterwards) for our Under-17’s to complete a «mythic» Super League title win. Orfanou’s and Bika’s side, the generation of 2007 (along with a few «little ones» of 2008) beat Olympiacos 1-0 in the Final Four final and ended the season in the most ideal way possible for PAOK.
In a poor first half with obvious anxiety and nervousness evident among both sets of players, it was a case of man-to-man duels and mistakes that dominated proceedings. PAOK tried to get the ball down and create openings, but in truth they did not succeed. On the contrary, Olympiacos had two good efforts on goal, to which Beleris responded as he should and made saves for PAOK. However, in the one phase of play where the Double-headed Eagle showed their quality, in the 41st minute, the goal came. First came a pass from Tsiotas, then a cross from Tsitsilas and a header on goal from Stylos, which was saved by the Olympiacos goalkeeper. However, Mythos was in the right place and teh right time to score from the rebound to make it 1-0. Unfortunately, shortly after that, Mythos took a blow which made it impossible for him to continue and he was substituted.
Olympiacos regrouped in the second half and began to press forward in search of an equalizeer, but without being particularly threatening. PAOK stood firm and loked more solid, even though the game had plenty of tension and mistakes from both teams. Apart from Papanikopoulos’ shot in the 68th minute after a nice effort and pass from Berdos, which was blocked by Georgakopoulos, there were not many chances of note. Until stoppage time, of course, when Giokas’ header went just wide. Olympiacos pushed for an equaliser, but PAOK held on and celebrated another championship, their fifth in the Under-17’s trophy cabinet.
Team lineups:
PAOK: Beleris, Tsiotas, Vyrsokinos, Kosidis, Bataoulas, Eleftheriadis, Tsitsilas (86′ Krommidas), Papanikopoulos (71′ Giokas), Stylos, Mythos (46′ Berdos), Dunga (93′ Theofilos).
Olympiacos: Georgakopoulos, Yiotopoulos (69′ Skouropoulos), Fragos, Karkatsalis, Theodoridis, Philis (69′ Osafis), Michaelidis, Fleudas, Tzamalis, Plis, Vasilakopoulos (76′ Ktenas).
