SL2 23/24: Athens Kallithea 3-2 Olympiacos B

In a back-and-forth affair, AKFC edged out Olympiacos B for a 3-2 win at Grigoris Lamprakis Stadium on Sunday evening in Matchday 2 of the 2023/24 Super League 2 season.

After a bright start, AKFC took the lead in the 17th minute, when Javier Matilla swung a dangerous free-kick into the box, the Olympiacos defense desperately headed away from goal, and Andeas Vasilogiannis struck the ball out of the air on the volley and into the net.

It was a relief to get out in front early, especially after a frustrating 0-0 draw against Panachaiki in Matchday 1, having seen countless chances gone wasted. But AKFC may have relaxed too soon, as Olympiacos pounced on a turnover and leveled the match just four minutes later through Guinea youth international striker Algassime Bah, who had recorded a hat trick in the previous meeting between the two teams last season and was now on the scoresheet once again.

AKFC would soon regain momentum, and they would eventually go back in front just before the half-time whistle. In first half stoppage time, Thierry Moutinho won the ball in midfield and took off into Olympiacos’ end before slotting a pass into the path of Panagiotis Kynigopoulos, who cut in from the right wing onto his left foot and sent a brilliant curling shot beyond the ‘keeper and inside the far post.

Just three days prior, AKFC had played 120 minutes in the Fourth Round of the Greek Cup, prevailing on penalties in Kalamata, and there was some noticeable fatigue on Sunday. At half-time, there was a sense that just holding onto their lead through the second half would be massive.

But Olympiacos, with energy, speed, and talent, were always going to be a handful, and they would equalize once again just five minutes into the second half, with Anastasios Tselios finishing a well worked attacking move.

AKFC were going to have to dig deep for a response, and, impressively, they produced one. In the 63rd minute, Giannis Loukinas received a low cross from Georgios Manthatis, fought off a defender with his back to goal, and laid the ball off for Mountinho, who stepped up with a remarkably poised first-time side-footed finish.

Reclaiming the lead with less than 30 minutes to play, the focus was squarely on closing out the result. AKFC manager Alekos Vosniadis would bring on fresh legs in Michaël Pereira, Abdul Rahman Weiss, Orestis Tsintonis, Georgios Moustakopoulos, and Nico Marotta through the final minutes of the match to hold off Olympiacos, who continued to press for a third equalizer. In the 84th minute, Alaixys Romao was shown a straight red for a push in the midst of a scuffle between the two teams, which further complicated the task, but with tough team defending and solid goalkeeping from Athanasios Pantos, AKFC held firm and secured all three points.

AKFC are off this weekend and return to league play on 15 October away to Panathiakos B.

Athens Kallithea (4-2-3-1): Pantos, Manthatis (86’ Marotta), Romao, Mejías, Kainourgios, Matilla (86’ Moustakopoulos), Silva, Kynigopoulos, Moutinho (68’ Pereira), Vasilogiannis (68’ Weiss), Loukinas (75’ Tsintonis)