OFI SAVE SUPER LEAGUE STATUS IN EPIC “BATTLE OF CRETE”

SUPER LEAGUE - PLAYOFF (2ND LEG)

OFI 3 - 2 Platanias

Neira 11' (P)
Giakoumakis 70'
Nabi 90'+6' (3 - 2)
Agg. Tsamouris 42'
Papanikolaou 90'+2'

OFI Crete ensured they will be playing in the Super League next season after Englishman Adil Nabi’s late goal in in the sixth minute of added time gave them a dramatic 3-2 win over fellow Cretans Platanias in Wednesday’s relegation/promotion decider.

Having drawn 0-0 in the first leg in Chania on Sunday, these two sides battled it out in an exciting encounter at OFI’s Theodoros Vardinogiannis Stadium, and a five-goal thriller ended happily for the home side.

Nabil clinched it with a free-kick with virtually the last kick of the game - a fitting end to what was a hugely entertaining match.

THE MATCH

Juan Neira gave OFI a ninth-minute lead from the penalty spot, although there was controversy as replays suggested that match referee Giorgos Kominis had made a very poor decision in awarding the spot-kick.

Platanias regrouped from that setback though and levelled matters three minutes before half-time through defender Kostas Tsamouris.

OFI’s striker Giorgos Giakoumakis, on loan from AEK, put the hosts ahead again after 69 minutes with a typical striker’s finish - prompting the lighting of flares and jubilant celebrations in the stands.

But Platanias battled manfully and deservedly drew level at 2-2 thanks to a brilliant finish from forward Giannis Papanikolaou in the second minute of stoppage time. At that stage it looked like Platanias would win promotion to the Super League on away goals, but Nabi had other ideas.

The 25-year-old former West Brom striker from Birmingham clinched victory from the jaws of defeat with an impressive set-piece effort to spark wild celebrations among players, officials, and of course the fans once more.

OFI, who finished 13th in the SuperLeague in the recently-completed season, struggled with financial problems throughout last season but have managed to save their skins in the last chance saloon.

There was huge disappointment for a clearly dejected and shell-shocked Platanias, who were relegated from the Super League at the end of the 2017/18 campaign and were hoping to get back into the top flight again.

credits: www.agonasport.com