Olympiakos loses 2-0 to Porto, drops into Europa League
Derek Gatopoulos | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 7 months AGO
PIRAEUS, Greece (AP) — Olympiakos secured a third-place finish in its Champions League group to drop into the last 32 of the Europa League despite a 2-0 home loss to Porto on Wednesday.
Marseille could have climbed above Olympiakos by bettering the Greek team's result on the final round of group games, but lost 3-0 at Manchester City. Olympiakos finished tied for points with Marseille but had a superior head-to-head record.
Otavio and substitute Matheus Uribe led Porto to its fourth Champions League win of the season after playing a largely second-string side.
Porto was awarded a penalty in the 10th minute following a lengthy consultation with the video assistant referee before Jose Holebas was penalized for handling the ball.
Otavio scored from the spot and his teammates looked comfortable absorbing the pressure before Uribe sealed the game with a powerful shot through the Olympiakos players in the 77th.
The Greeks ended the game with 10 men after Ruben Semedo was sent off late in the second half, earning a second yellow card for a forceful tackle against Luis Diaz.
Having already secured second place to advance to the knockout stage, Porto coach Sergio Conceicao rested several regular starters but his young players effectively held Olympiakos back at an empty Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium.
“We neutralized their advantages and that was key for this game,” Conceicao said. “It wasn’t the early goal as much as the fact that we managed to impose our game against a tough side — not an easy thing to do at this stadium.”
In a game with little goalmouth action, the Greek team missed two clear chances to equalize.
In the 15th, Giorgos Masouras skillfully controlled a long ball from Andreas Bouchalakis but shot over the bar with only goalkeeper Diogo Costa to beat.
Youssef El-Arabi shot wide in the 54th with Porto’s defense out of position.
Olympiakos' Champions League run this season was hit by multiple cases of COVID-19 among the team's top players, but coach Pedro Martins didn't want to make excuses. “We did have difficulties but we didn’t overcome them,” said Martins, a Portuguese former assistant manager at Porto.
“Tonight’s game was like all our others this season in Europe: We gave the ball away, made successive mistakes, and lost concentration when we took our chances. We need to do better and play with a fresher presence.” ___ Follow Gatopoulos at https://twitter.com/dgatopoulos ___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
MORE IMPORTED STORIES
Olympiakos loses 2-0 to Porto, drops into Europa League
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 4 years, 7 months ago
Man City advances in Champions League after Foden's winner
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 4 years, 7 months ago
Man City advances in Champions League after Foden's winner
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 4 years, 7 months ago
ARTICLES BY DEREK GATOPOULOS
US, Russia envoys discuss Iran nuclear deal ahead of summit
VIENNA (AP) — Delegations from Russia and the United States involved in nuclear negotiations with Iran held talks in Vienna on Monday, two days ahead of a summit meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Caution on Iran nuclear deal as G7 leaders vow to stop bomb
VIENNA (AP) — Diplomats from outside the European Union cautioned Sunday that negotiations with Iran to salvage a landmark nuclear deal still need more time, as leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy nations reaffirmed a commitment to stop the Islamic republic from building nuclear weapons.
US, Russia envoys discuss Iran nuclear deal ahead of summit
VIENNA (AP) — Delegations from Russia and the United States involved in nuclear negotiations with Iran held talks in Vienna on Monday, two days ahead of a summit meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin.