SL2 25/26: Ilioupoli 0-1 Athens Kallithea

In a muddy, rain-soaked affair, AKFC did the dirty job and fought through the elements, until Andreas Vasilogiannis found the back of the net with the final kick of the match in the 95th minute, sealing a dramatic 0-1 win over Ilioupoli at their temporary venue in Psachna.

Despite a nearly unplayable pitch, AKFC managed to control the ball and should have taken the lead in the first half, with the team’s young attacking talents Juan Cantillo and Alexis Golfinos especially active. In the 23rd minute, Cantillo latched onto a pass in the box but his close-range shot was denied, as Ilioupoli ‘keeper Apostolos Tsilingiris came off his line and made an excellent sliding save. In the 34th minute, Golfinos cut in from the right wing and fired a left-footed shot from distance that clipped the crossbar. Just before half-time, yet another opportunity in front of goal fell to Antonis Dedakis who couldn’t get a shot on target, and the match was stuck at 0-0 going into the break.

AKFC biggest chance came early into the second half, when 23-year-old left-back Filimon Frosynis, who was one of the top performers in the match, tore through the defense and served up a perfect cross for Giannis Gerolemou who was all alone in front of goal, but his header went straight at the ‘keeper.

In the 64th minute, AKFC survived a dangerous moment. After Ilioupoli won a foul just outside the box, a well-struck free-kick seemed destined for the top corner, but ‘keeper Gianmarco Crespi made a stunning save at full stretch to keep the match scoreless.

As the pitch condition worsened, it became more difficult to generate chances, and time continued to tick away on the match, but AKFC kept pushing until they finally made the breakthrough. When substitute right-back Konstantinos Panagou swung a ball into the box, the veteran Vasilogiannis won the ball through the crowd, took a touch to set himself, and curled the ball inside the far post, sending AKFC into delirious celebrations.

AKFC will return home this weekend as they host Egaleo at Grigoris Lamprakis Stadium on Sunday 16 November.

Athens Kallithea (4-2-3-1): Crespi, Dentakis (72’ Panagou), Pasalidis, Gezos, Frosynis (90’ Insúa), Matilla, Metaxas, Golfinos, Gerolemou (62’ Sardelis), Vasilogiannis (90’ Sotirakos), Cantillo (72’ Mavrias)