Football game soon on schedule. - Piraeus Olympiakos clinches Conference League championship
In 2021, Olympiakos Piraeus became the first Greek football club to claim a European cup. This victory came 20 years after Greece's national team won the European Championship with none other than German coach Otto Rehhagel at the helm. Piraeus triumphed in the Conference League final against AC Florence in Athens with a 1-0 (0-0) score, following extra time. The game-winning goal was scored by Ayoub El Kaabi in the 116th minute. It's worth noting that Florence had previously lost the Conference League final the season prior.
This victory marked the third time a club has won this relatively new competition, with AS Roma and West Ham United preceding Piraeus. Piraeus' head coach, Jose Luis Mendilibar, had managed the team since February and had previously won the Europa League title with Sevilla the year before.
The first half of the match was tense yet violent, with limited scoring chances. Nikola Milenkovic tried to score for Florence in the 9th minute, but the goal was disallowed due to offside. Florence's Giacomo Bonaventura also had two attempts in quick succession, both of which were thwarted by Olympiakos' goalkeeper, Konstantinos Tzolakis. On the other end of the field, Daniel Podence missed a header during a corner kick against Florence's Pietro Terracciano.
Late winning goal thoroughly scrutinized
The second half saw frequent blunders from both teams. Ayoub El Kaabi, Piraeus' striker who had scored five goals in their semi-final against Aston Villa, had been effectively marked by Florence players until the 116th minute. However, after a prolonged video review, the goal was eventually recognized.
The game was categorized as a high-risk match by authorities. Consequently, they implemented stringent security measures and traffic regulations to guarantee a smooth event, as mentioned by police officials. Just before halftime, skirmishes broke out between Piraeus and Florence fans, leading to a police intervention.
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- Piraeus Olympiakos' victory in the Conference League final marked their entry into an exclusive club of European cup winners in Greece.
- The triumph in Europe's second-tier tournament was a significant achievement for Jose Luis Mendilibar, who had only joined Olympiakos Piraeus a few months prior.
- Italy's AC Florence had fallen short in the Conference League final for the second consecutive year, with Piraeus emerging as the eventual winners in Europe.
- In the heart of Greece, Athens played host to the Conference League final, where Olympiakos Piraeus secured their place in European soccer history.
- Ayoub El Kaabi's late-minute goal against AC Florence was the difference-maker in the Conference League final, securing Olympiakos Piraeus' first European cup since the early 2000s.
- The final match between Olympiakos Piraeus and AC Florence in the Conference League witnessed tense moments and heated encounters, echoing the footballing rivalry between the two nations.
- German coach Otto Rehhagel, known for leading Greece to the European Championship victory, celebrated the success of Olympiakos Piraeus, further cementing Greece's presence in Europe's soccer scene.
- Following their Conference League triumph, Piraeus Olympiakos looked to compete on a higher stage, setting their sights on the Europa League and the coveted European Cup.
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