In a thrilling conclusion to the Europa Conference League, Olympiakos secured a historic victory by defeating Fiorentina 1-0 in extra time.
This triumph, marked by a dramatic goal from Ayoub El Kaabi, not only earned Olympiakos its first European club title but also ignited jubilant celebrations across Greece.
The tightly contested match, held at the AEK Arena, showcased the resilience and determination of the Greek side, culminating in a moment of euphoria that will be remembered by fans for years to come.
A Dramatic Ending
The decisive moment came in the 116th minute when Ayoub El Kaabi, the competition’s top scorer, struck a last-gasp goal.
El Kaabi dived to nudge in a cross from Santiago Hezze, setting off jubilant celebrations among Olympiakos fans.
The goal stood after a tense VAR check for offside, prompting El Kaabi to drop to his knees in relief. “Praise be to God, we promised our supporters we’d do this today, and we did it,” said the Moroccan striker.
A Match Destined for Drama
The final, held at the AEK Arena, seemed destined for a penalty shootout after a high-energy but largely risk-free encounter.
Fiorentina, coached by Vincenzo Italiano, created several chances but failed to convert them into goals.
This defeat marked their second consecutive loss in the Europa Conference League final, following last year’s loss to West Ham. “We created chances and had the opportunity to lift the cup, but unfortunately, it didn’t happen – I’m sorry,” Italiano lamented. “In Europe, it’s not an easy thing to get this far and lose.”
Olympiakos’ Historic Win
Olympiakos’ coach, Jose Luis Mendilibar, celebrated his second consecutive European title, having led Sevilla to victory in the Europa League last season. “It’s an honor to have made all these people happy,” Mendilibar said. “We have achieved something that our club has never achieved before. We will celebrate it and celebrate it the way we should. Then we will start working on what comes next.”
Celebrations Across Athens
Following the victory, tens of thousands of Olympiakos fans participated in joyous celebrations across Athens.
In Piraeus, youths held up lit flares, and fans gathered for outdoor viewing parties. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis praised Olympiakos in an online post, calling the team “a true legend.
” He added, “Olympiakos has won the Europa Conference League and made history! A sensational night for the club itself, but also for Greek football as a whole.”
Security Measures and Minor Incidents
The final took place amid extensive security measures, with approximately 5,000 police officers deployed to ensure safety.
This was part of a broader effort to address Europe-wide security concerns for major sporting events, including the upcoming Paris Olympics and European soccer championship in Germany.
The match was briefly marred by scuffles between Fiorentina fans and riot police inside the stadium, but these incidents were quickly contained.
Key Moments and Player Performances
Despite Fiorentina dominating the early stages, Olympiakos goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano made crucial saves, notably blocking on-target shots from Daniel Podence and Stevan Jovetic in the fourth minute and sixth minute of extra time, respectively.
El Kaabi, who scored a total of 11 goals in the competition, was largely kept at bay by Fiorentina’s solid four-man defense until his decisive goal.
Post-Match Celebrations
After the game, Olympiakos players celebrated with their fans, some holding their young children as golden confetti filled the air around the awards podium.
Defender Panagiotis Retsos shared his joy, stating, “It’s the best emotion I’ve felt so far in my career. I’ve had a lot of ups and downs, but I’m very, very happy to be here.”
Olympiakos’ victory in the Europa Conference League final not only brought immense joy to their fans but also marked a significant milestone in Greek football history.
The Information is Collected from Yahoo and Eurosport.
