The future belongs to them
It was a hard-fought, passionate match -no wonder it got decided in the penalty shoot-out. PAOK lost 5-3 to Olympiacos in the second semi-final of the Super League U17 Final Four, after 120 minutes of quality football that proved this generation of footballers has the potential to go far.
The final will be contested by Olympiacos and Asteras Tripolis, who also needed a penalty shoot-out to prevail over Xanthi. The trophy match is scheduled to kick off at 19:30 on Saturday 20 May.
The first half lacked attempts on goal, however it was a match of high pace, with a display of fine passing skills in midfield. Apart from a shot by Lyratzis in the 44th minute and an effort by Olympiacos’s Fytopoulos one minute later, the two goalkeepers were rarely bothered.
After the interval, the match became more intense and physical. Syllektis denied Olympiacos twice (62’, 77’). Regulation time went by without any team being able to break the deadlock. Olympiacos had the initiative in extra time, but it was PAOK who wasted two fine opportunities to score. After an impressive individual effort, Vrakas sent his shot just wide in the 104th minute. Maniotis’s fine strike also flew wide eleven minutes later.
Neofytidis, Fekas, Galoupis, Tsirigotis and Papadopoulos all converted their spot kicks for Olympiacos. Vrakas, Christos Voutsas and Gargalatzidis found the net, but the impeccable Dimitris Voutsas sent his shot wide.
PAOK U17: Syllektis, Lyratzis (98’ Georgiadis), Μichailidis, Diamantis, D.Voutsas, Τsiggaras, Μaniotis, Salamouras (72’ Vrakas), Chatzis (46’ Gargalatzidis), Gaitanidis (72’ Chr. Voutsas), Doumtsis (101’ Koreas)
Olympiacos U17: Nikopolidis, Margaritis, Galoupis, Papadopoulos, Rama, Fytopoulos, Doumanis (91’ Tsirigotis), Τserkonis (105’ Papaggelis), Voilis (91’ Νeofytidis), Κatsoukis (88’ Μartinis), Ζiakas (81’ Fekas)
