OFI Crete won on Saturday its second Greek Cup, beating PAOK 3-2 in extra time at the final held in Volos.
OFI, that had also beaten AEK on its way to the final, earned its first trophy since the Greek Cup in 1987.
The game will be remembered for its passion and balance shifts, and above all for the crazy party of the OFI fans before and mainly after the final whistle.
PAOK opened the score on the 15th minute, as a corner kick from the right caused chaos in the OFI defense and Giannis Michailidis headed the ball in.
OFI quickly upped its game, put pressure on the Thessaloniki giant and equalized on the 28th after a double effort by former MLS striker Taxi Fountas, sparking wild celebrations at the OFI support at the stands.
Then, five minutes into the second half, Levan Shengelia, Eddie Salcedo and Thiago Nuss combined and the Argentine controlled the ball and sent it into the net for 2-1.
On the seventh minute of time added-on Mady Camara crossed the ball into the six-yard box and PAOK substitute Alexander Jeremejeff made it 2-2.
The game went to extra time, and at the end of its first half OFI earned a penalty for a Dimitris Hatsidis handball and Aaron Leya Iseka converted it to restore the Cretans’ lead and become the toast of Iraklio and most of Crete.
The final was also marked by the exceptionally good atmosphere at the stands, given also that the OFI and PAOK fans have good relations.
OFI manager Christos Kontis has therefore won his second cup trophy in three years at the same stadium, after the Panathinaikos vs Aris final in 2024.
The result means that OFI is getting the ticket to next season’s Europa League and the 5-8 Super League playoffs are reduced to a mere formality, as they will not offer their winner a place in next season’s European competitions after all.
