Greek Cup 24/25: Diagoras 0-0 Athens Kallithea (3-4 pen)

AKFC have advanced to the Round of 16 of the Greek Cup for the third consecutive season, prevailing on penalties after 120 scoreless minutes with Diagoras on the island of Rhodes.

AKFC manager Massimo Donati used the cup tie as an opportunity to hand eight players their first starts of the season, including Ioannis Gelios in goal, Wiktor Matyjewicz in defense, and Mor Ndiaye in midfield making their full debuts for the club.

In control throughout, AKFC would apply increasing pressure through the match, with Giannis Loukinas, Pyry Soiri, and substitutes Roberts Uldriķis and Elia Giani all going close to scoring, but failing to make the breakthrough, the tie would be decided on penalties.

After Javier Matilla missed the first penalty, Demethryus would score and Gelios would make a save which allowed Uldriķis to even the penalites at 2-2. Giani would convert AKFC’s next penalty, and when Gelios made yet another save, Alessandro Mercati stepped up to score the decisive penalty.

Athens Kallithea (3-4-2-1): Gelios, Matyjewicz, Romao, Tsivelekidis (81’ Hanousek), Soiri (68’ Giani), Matilla, Ndiaye, Kainourgios, Vasilogiannis (81’ Nikolić), Valbuena (68’ Uldriķis), Loukinas (88’ Demethryus)