Only pride for the Olympiacos Youth team that made history by reaching a breath away from winning the Intercontinental Cup (Intercontinental Cup U20) which was lost in the dying minutes.
The legendary “kids” – who represented not only Greece but all of Europe today – took the lead at the Maracanã, freezing the Brazilians, while they lost the opportunity to double their goals in the 88th minute when the ball hit the crossbar. And they showed they wanted to write yet another golden page for Olympiacos and the country, having already won the Youth League for 2024.
However, the dream of winning the Intercontinental Cup – U20 faded in the 90+2, one minute before the end of the match.
The first half was very nice with shared opportunities and the young players of Olympiacos entering the game strongly. In fact, they created a huge double chance to score in the 20th minute, first with a powerful shot from Papakanellou that was saved by Flamengo’s goalkeeper and then with Bakoulas who failed to send the ball into the net.
Two minutes later, in the 22nd minute, Pneumonidis also came very close to scoring, just like Kostoulas in the 24th minute, who – after a pass from Papakanellou – attempted to beat the Brazilian goalkeeper with a backheel.
In the 55th minute, Olympiacos opened the scoring with Liatsikouras who made it 1-0 after an amazing effort by the Reds and Kostoulas.
Immediately after, Flamengo picked up the pace and found the way to the net in the 73rd minute equalizing to 1-1 with Caio Garcia.
In the 88th minute, Olympiacos hit the crossbar with a header from Prekates.
Flamengo embraced the Intercontinental trophy in the 90th +2′ with Teresa.
At the Maracanã for the historic matchup was also the powerful man of the Olympiacos football club, Vangelis Marinakis alongside his son Miltiadis Marinakis.
Team Lineups
Flamengo: Alves, Sales (86′ Da Mata), Iago, Victor, Wellington (61′ Carlos), Joao Alves (61′ Caio Garcia), Lucas, Gomes (65′ Teresa), Gonsalves, Wallace and Ogundana (86′ Andriel).
Olympiacos: Botis, Dama, Prekates, Koutsidis, Alafakis, Liatsikouras, Bakoulas, Mouzakitis, Pneumonidis, Papakanellou and Kostoulas.
We continue to dream
“Tonight’s final was a unique experience, we are all very proud of you! We continue to dream!” says Olympiacos FC in its social media post.
Vangelis Marinakis’ Post
In the “Olympiacos spirit” of the youth who played tonight with passion against a “great opponent” and in a “historic stadium the Maracanã”, mentions, among other things, the president of Olympiacos FC, Vangelis Marinakis in his social media post. “They made us very proud once again! I have no doubt that in the future they will continue to conquer peaks and realize their dreams,” he emphasizes and refers to the two historic moments that Olympiacos added to its glorious path just before completing 100 years: the winning of the UEFA Europa Conference League and the UEFA Youth League.
Specifically, Mr. Marinakis states the following:
“Tonight we witnessed and experienced a great final against a great opponent. In a historic stadium the Maracanã, in Brazil, the country of football. The young Olympiacos footballers fought tonight in front of 40,000 fans who did not stop for a second to sing for their team Flamengo. They played with an Olympiacos spirit and passion and deserve many congratulations for reaching this point! They made us very proud once again! I have no doubt that in the future they will continue to conquer peaks and realize their dreams. In our Academy, the kids work daily with great coaches and a team of people who help them and push them to develop their talent and love for football.
At Olympiacos, we are one family and as I have said in the past, I will always be alongside the young kids to help build their future, to build the future of our Club and Greek football. Just before Olympiacos celebrates its 100 years of legendary history, we added to our glorious history the first European Trophies, those of the UEFA Europa Conference League and the UEFA Youth League and competed in the final of the Intercontinental Cup U20. We continue strong, WE CONTINUE TO DREAM!
Long live Olympiacos!”.
See the post: