EMPHATIC OFI SEAL PLAYOFF SPOT

SUPER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 26

OFI 3 - 0 Lamia
Figueiredo 2'
Naby 9'
Semedo 20'

OFI clinched a spot in the playoffs in emphatic fashion on Sunday courtesy of a 3-0 home win over Lamia, a win saw them end the regular season in fifth place and ward off the threat of Asteras Tripolis and Atromitos.

The evening began with OFI dueling along with Asteras and Atromitos for sixth spot, which was the Cretan club’s to lose as they began the day in that position with 31 points.

And thanks to a first-half goal blitz in the opening 21 minutes, the Heraklion club took complete control of the match and with it, their destiny of a spot in the playoffs to battle for a European place in the coming weeks.

Vitor Figueiredo opened the scoring after two minutes, and Adil Nabi quickly doubled the advantage seven minutes later with a superb long-range strike, before Lisandro Semedo then added a third after a mazy run in the 21st minute to end the game as a contest.

There was no way back for Lamia after that, and OFI held on comfortably for a vital three-point haul which saw them deservedly enter the playoffs in fifth place with 34 points - ahead of Aris on goal difference - after an excellent season back in the top flight.

Larissa blitz Asteras Tripolis; Atromitos sink Aris

Radomir Milosavljevic scored a first-half hat-trick for Larissa as the Vissini put Asteras Tripolis to the sword at the AEL FC Arena, eliminating any faint hopes they had of catching OFI at the start of the day.

Meanwhile in Thessaloniki, Atromitos did everything they could to try and make a last-ditch claim for the playoffs by recording a battling 2-1 away win over fifth-placed Aris, who are already bound for the playoffs, but ultimately they fell short as OFI’s win over Lamia saw them finish fifth and hang on to a playoff place.

The Peristeri club, however, gave it really good go against Michael Oenning’s Aris side at the Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium.

After a goalless first half in which both sides squandered chances, the match came to life in the 48th minute when Aris went in front thanks to Nicolas Diguiny.

But two goals in eight minutes from Clarck N’Sikulu (52) and Rodrigo Galo (60) turned the game on its head and saw Atromitos take all three points.

As a result, Atromitos ended the season in seventh place, just one spot away from a playoff place on 32 points, while Aris dropped from fifth to sixth on goal difference but level on 34 points with fifth-placed OFI.

credits: www.agonasport.com