Ten-man Olympiacos side secure draw at home against Wolves

·

Ten-man Olympiacos drew 1-1 with Wolves in Piraeus on Thursday in the first leg of the Europa League Round of 16 tie that is unknown when and if it will see its second leg played.

The low-key affair, played behind closed doors at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium to contain the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, involved nine Portuguese players and two Portuguese coaches.

As if missing its fans was not enough, Olympiakos was reduced to 10 from as early as the 28th minute, when Ruben Semedo saw a straight red for a foul on Diogo Jota.

Despite the numerical disadvantage Olympiakos held its English visitor with relative ease in the rest of the first half.

In two or three occasions the Reds managed to make some inroads into the Wolves’ defence from the right, and in one of those Mady Camara picked Guilherme inside the area and he slid the ball across the goal to the path of Youssef El-Arabi who scored from close range on the 54th minute.

The Greeks’ lead was quite short-lived as on the 67th Pedro Neto’s shot after a Joao Moutinho free kick went in off the boot of Andreas Bouchalakis for 1-1.

Wolves went out in search of a winner, but Olympiakos keeper Jose Sa denied the visitors three times, one of them with his very face.

The second leg is supposed to be played on March 19 at Wolverhampton, but the future of the tie and of all European competitions will be decided next Tuesday when European soccer’s ruling body UEFA holds a conference call to help contain the growing epidemic.

Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis had tested positive for the virus, but the Greek club’s squad and staff were screened ahead of the game and tested negative.

Prior to the match, Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo thought it was “absurd” to keep football going amid the widespread chaos caused by the coronavirus outbreak. 

“You play a game of football and then realise what is happening worldwide – people dead and dying. Then we play a game of football – it’s absurd,” he told BT Sport  ahead of kick-off in Athens.

Sourced by: Ekatherimi

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Maria Charalambous saves husband from Sydney house fire

Maria Charalambous is being hailed a hero after saving her husband, from a devastating house fire that destroyed their Bonnyrigg Heights home.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew meets Pope Leo XIV a second time

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met with Pope Leo XIV for the second time at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican.

South Melbourne storm to fourth win of season in emphatic style

South Melbourne FC was spectacular against Melbourne Victory Youth on Sunday, winning 4-2 and celebrating their second consecutive win.

Arthur Diles slams handball decision after Melbourne Victory’s Grand Final loss

Melbourne Victory head coach Arthur Diles criticised a controversial refereeing decision following his team’s 1-0 defeat to Melbourne City.

Archbishop Makarios of Australia joins Patriarchal Liturgy marking First Ecumenical Council

Archbishop Makarios of Australia participated in a landmark Patriarchal and Synodal Divine Liturgy on Sunday, June 1.

You May Also Like

New tourist tragedy in Greece sparks urgent concerns

The body of a 55-year-old American tourist, missing since last Tuesday on the Ionian island of Corfu, was discovered on Saturday.

Greece opens two more ‘closed’ migrant camps on the islands of Kos and Leros

Greece has inaugurated two more closed migrant holding centres on the Greek islands of Kos and Leros on Saturday.

The Archdiocese of Australia ‘relieves parishes’ from their financial responsibilities in 2020

The decision comes as the Archdiocese attempts to respond to the needs of its parishes, priests and ecclesiastical employees during the COVID-19 outbreak.