Olympiacos, in the best away performance in its European history, defeated Aston Villa 4-2 in the “Villa Park” of Birmingham in the first semi-final of the Conference League and revived for good the hopes of the “red and whites” to reach a European final for the first time in their history. Piraeus now need two results in the second leg next Thursday (9/5) in “Karaiskakis” to be able to qualify for the final of the competition at “OPAP Arena” on May 29…
Olympiacos in the biggest until the next match in its history made an amazing first half where it found itself leading 2-1, after in the 29th minute it was 2-0 ahead thanks to two goals from El Kaabi who reached seven goals in as many games in Europe!
Villa started with a good chance with a Rodgers shot in the 6th minute which was impressively cleared by Tzolakis and in the 9th minute they got a goal with Bailey disallowed for a foul by Legle on Ibora. But Olympiacos, who had entered the game well in the 16th minute, managed to open the scoring. Stealing the ball from the suffocating pressing and Cicinho brought El Kaabi four-on-four with Olsen, placed him well and made it 0-1. The goal was initially disallowed for offside by the Moroccan, but VAR upheld the goal. The English were taken by surprise and Olympiacos dominated the pitch in the following minutes, blocking the home team’s advantage.
And while Emery’s team looked nervous on the pitch, a magical ball from Pontense came to El Kaabi at the back of the English defence, the Moroccan controlled with his head and slotted past Olsen for 0-2 in the 29th minute…
The home team, with their backs against the wall now, in the last five minutes pressed suffocatingly and managed to reduce in the first minute of stoppage time with a shot by Watkins (1-2), giving new interest to the game.
In the 2nd half, Villa came out very pressing with great intensity and managed to equalize 2-2 in the 52nd minute with Diaby’s shot from a very difficult position. However, Olympiacos quickly regained its footing and reacted very quickly. In the 56th minute, he won a penalty on Retsu’s header and Luiz’s hand. The penalty was taken by El Kaabi who made it 2-3 with his first hat trick with Olympiakos and reached 30 goals in all competitions this season.
Olympiacos was determined for a positive result in England and in the 67th minute, Sebastian Ese with a volley from outside the area and after the ball changed direction in Konsa, he scored 2-4 in the presence of 2,500 “red and white” fans.
In the 80′ Carmo’s fireball was kicked out by Olsen, but in the 83′ the home team won a penalty after Duran was tripped by Carmo. Luiz executed it and sent the ball out.
Italy’s Marco Guida showed Diaby a yellow card.
ASTON VILLA: Olsen, Cass, Konsa, Langley, Digne, Bailey (85′ Zaniolo), McGinn, Luiz, Rodgers (74′ Duran), Diaby (85′ Bunham), Watkins.
OLYMPIC: Tzolakis, Rodinei, Ortega (46′ Richards), Carmo, Retsos, Ibora, Ese, Tsiquinio, Fortounis, Pontense (69′ Horta), El Kaabi.
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