88th minute is still a good minute, so I'll take any goals that it brings.
The final statistics tell the story of the game in partial: 72% ball possession for Panathinaikos, and 14 efforts on goal, 11 of which were on target but were either too soft, too easy, or blocked. Doxa Dramas had zero chances the whole game. Yes, that's zero as in nothing, none.
With Doxa playing 11 men behind the ball Katsouranis moved permanently in midfield after 75' (Vitolo did double-duty as a second CB when the ball moved to our defense) and the whole team just looked like they were running at a feverish pace as the clock ticked down. The good thing is that they never looked panicked and tried methodically to get the ball around Doxa's goal for a clean shot.
The result was a much-needed goal by Katsouranis at a time when the ball was circulating almost exclusively around Doxa's box. In a sense it was inevidable. Even though PAO didn't create as many clean chances as you would expect from dominating possession, but they did have half a dozen clean chances at open shots.
Good job by everyone to keep hustling despite the game looking increasingly like it might go south. In the end it was another game no one will remember at the end of the season, but it contributed three vital points for Panathinaikos who continue to have the advantage (a game less against Levadia) against Olympiakos in this race for the title.
Overall, the increase in intensity the players showed in the last fifteen minutes is what made the difference. They moved the ball well around Doxa's box and found many open lanes to take some good shots. Now, if they can just do this in spurts earlier in each game, we would not be stressing out in the end.
Video
The Players
Kapinos 7
I can't really rate Kapinos because he had the easiest afternoon he could ever have. He was never challenged and in the couple of occassions that the ball came his way he did well to quiet the play.
Marinos 7
He did very well defensively whenever he was isolated with any Doxa player and really helped developement down the wing, especially in the first half.
Spyropoulos 4
Watching this game I was reminded that there are certainties in life. Death, taxes, and Spyropoulos' first (or second) touch sending the ball five meters away so he has to chase it and lose it. Not really much help going forward and he was never really challenged on defense because Doxa could not get that far forward.
Bjarsmyr 8
Excellent positioning and good distribution by Bjarsmyr today. Game by game he gets his confidence built up and even though he was often underpowered one-on-one he fought hard to win the ball in the air and on the ground.
Katsouranis 9
Fantastic game by Katsourani who realized (or instructed by Ferreira - it makes no difference) that he could move forward in the last fifteen minutes. Even before that, the entire game he distributed the ball really well from defense. In the end, he made the difference on this one and sent us all on coud nine at a moment when we all thought that the win was getting farther and farther away.
Vitolo 6
Good job defensively and good distribution in midfield, but he never really did the something extra to get our forwards free (the way Katsouranis does from this position with his forward passes).
Cleyton 7
He looked really good in the first half and moved the ball well, despite the long pauses he had in his game.
Leto 7
He moved all round the box from the center to the right wing an gave lots of headaches to defenders. But in the end he was kept away from the box by a very dedicated Doxa group that attacked him by three and four players every time he had the ball, even in midfield.
Zeka 6
He had as many errors as he had good passes but overall his contribution and tenacity were positive contributions towards this win.
Quincy 1
He was the second player today that reminded me of the certainties of life: Death, taxes, and Quincy screwing up every play he got involved with today. Thats not too bad, but his attitude seems to be getting worst game by game. He seems to think that a couple of good dribbles that excite 12-year olds are enough and it's someone else's job to mark that opponent that he just gave the ball to, and it's ok if he doesn't run back to chase the player that dispossessed him.
Totse 3
He missed a sitter in the very beginning and after that he disappeared in Drama's populous defense.
Petropoulos 5
He didn't really do much on his own after replacing Totse, but he was a bigger force to recon with in the box, and his presence alone contributed in opponent's having a harder time getting to and clearing the ball out of their box.
Karagounis
He played int he last ten minutes and managed to increase the intensity of teammates and fans alike. Not that they needed any help with less than ten minutes left, but I don't want to underestimate the effects of psychology when a team is staring a pretty embarrassing tie at home with a few minutes to go.
Mavrias
His contribution in the last ten minutes was immense down the right wing. He looked strong and fast, and won many loose balls in the box. His biggest contribution was creating the winning goal. He lurked at the edge of the box during a corner kick, and won the ball from the defender who was trying to clear it. He send a wicket shot towards goal, forcing the goalkeeper to pull a difficult save but to spill the ball right into the lurking Katsouranis' feet.
Somehow, winning at the last few minutes must be really frustrating for Olympiakos "paragontes" and I can't help but feel double satisfied :)
Now let's watch the media host asinine statements from the person who is acting like the head clown for the Pireas team (Theodoridis) in 3, 2, 1, ...
Sorry, I could not help making fun of the poor guy after reading his pathetic drivel in the last few weeks. He personifies everything that's wrong with Greek football and that's the only reason he gets a salary from his team.
I like Panathinaikos' responce: 85' Goaaaal, Cleyton.... 88' Goaaaal Katsouraaaanis
PS: It was nice to watch the game without commentary (I hope the reporters enjoyed their strike). I turned on the music and as it happened when Katsouranis scored the amazing "Cortez the Killer" by the Dave Mathews Band was paying, making the atmosphere in my room overcharged. If you heard someone screaming, it was me!
Here is the song by the way (substitute "Cortez" for "Katsour" when you sing along):
Enjoy this ride everyone!
The final statistics tell the story of the game in partial: 72% ball possession for Panathinaikos, and 14 efforts on goal, 11 of which were on target but were either too soft, too easy, or blocked. Doxa Dramas had zero chances the whole game. Yes, that's zero as in nothing, none.
With Doxa playing 11 men behind the ball Katsouranis moved permanently in midfield after 75' (Vitolo did double-duty as a second CB when the ball moved to our defense) and the whole team just looked like they were running at a feverish pace as the clock ticked down. The good thing is that they never looked panicked and tried methodically to get the ball around Doxa's goal for a clean shot.
The result was a much-needed goal by Katsouranis at a time when the ball was circulating almost exclusively around Doxa's box. In a sense it was inevidable. Even though PAO didn't create as many clean chances as you would expect from dominating possession, but they did have half a dozen clean chances at open shots.
Good job by everyone to keep hustling despite the game looking increasingly like it might go south. In the end it was another game no one will remember at the end of the season, but it contributed three vital points for Panathinaikos who continue to have the advantage (a game less against Levadia) against Olympiakos in this race for the title.
Overall, the increase in intensity the players showed in the last fifteen minutes is what made the difference. They moved the ball well around Doxa's box and found many open lanes to take some good shots. Now, if they can just do this in spurts earlier in each game, we would not be stressing out in the end.
Video
The Players
Kapinos 7
I can't really rate Kapinos because he had the easiest afternoon he could ever have. He was never challenged and in the couple of occassions that the ball came his way he did well to quiet the play.
Marinos 7
He did very well defensively whenever he was isolated with any Doxa player and really helped developement down the wing, especially in the first half.
Spyropoulos 4
Watching this game I was reminded that there are certainties in life. Death, taxes, and Spyropoulos' first (or second) touch sending the ball five meters away so he has to chase it and lose it. Not really much help going forward and he was never really challenged on defense because Doxa could not get that far forward.
Bjarsmyr 8
Excellent positioning and good distribution by Bjarsmyr today. Game by game he gets his confidence built up and even though he was often underpowered one-on-one he fought hard to win the ball in the air and on the ground.
Katsouranis 9
Fantastic game by Katsourani who realized (or instructed by Ferreira - it makes no difference) that he could move forward in the last fifteen minutes. Even before that, the entire game he distributed the ball really well from defense. In the end, he made the difference on this one and sent us all on coud nine at a moment when we all thought that the win was getting farther and farther away.
Vitolo 6
Good job defensively and good distribution in midfield, but he never really did the something extra to get our forwards free (the way Katsouranis does from this position with his forward passes).
Cleyton 7
He looked really good in the first half and moved the ball well, despite the long pauses he had in his game.
Leto 7
He moved all round the box from the center to the right wing an gave lots of headaches to defenders. But in the end he was kept away from the box by a very dedicated Doxa group that attacked him by three and four players every time he had the ball, even in midfield.
Zeka 6
He had as many errors as he had good passes but overall his contribution and tenacity were positive contributions towards this win.
Quincy 1
He was the second player today that reminded me of the certainties of life: Death, taxes, and Quincy screwing up every play he got involved with today. Thats not too bad, but his attitude seems to be getting worst game by game. He seems to think that a couple of good dribbles that excite 12-year olds are enough and it's someone else's job to mark that opponent that he just gave the ball to, and it's ok if he doesn't run back to chase the player that dispossessed him.
Totse 3
He missed a sitter in the very beginning and after that he disappeared in Drama's populous defense.
Petropoulos 5
He didn't really do much on his own after replacing Totse, but he was a bigger force to recon with in the box, and his presence alone contributed in opponent's having a harder time getting to and clearing the ball out of their box.
Karagounis
He played int he last ten minutes and managed to increase the intensity of teammates and fans alike. Not that they needed any help with less than ten minutes left, but I don't want to underestimate the effects of psychology when a team is staring a pretty embarrassing tie at home with a few minutes to go.
Mavrias
His contribution in the last ten minutes was immense down the right wing. He looked strong and fast, and won many loose balls in the box. His biggest contribution was creating the winning goal. He lurked at the edge of the box during a corner kick, and won the ball from the defender who was trying to clear it. He send a wicket shot towards goal, forcing the goalkeeper to pull a difficult save but to spill the ball right into the lurking Katsouranis' feet.
Somehow, winning at the last few minutes must be really frustrating for Olympiakos "paragontes" and I can't help but feel double satisfied :)
Now let's watch the media host asinine statements from the person who is acting like the head clown for the Pireas team (Theodoridis) in 3, 2, 1, ...
Sorry, I could not help making fun of the poor guy after reading his pathetic drivel in the last few weeks. He personifies everything that's wrong with Greek football and that's the only reason he gets a salary from his team.
I like Panathinaikos' responce: 85' Goaaaal, Cleyton.... 88' Goaaaal Katsouraaaanis
PS: It was nice to watch the game without commentary (I hope the reporters enjoyed their strike). I turned on the music and as it happened when Katsouranis scored the amazing "Cortez the Killer" by the Dave Mathews Band was paying, making the atmosphere in my room overcharged. If you heard someone screaming, it was me!
Here is the song by the way (substitute "Cortez" for "Katsour" when you sing along):
Enjoy this ride everyone!
2 comments:
Great job in reporting the game. I wish the quality of Panathinaikos game was matching the quality of this report!
Thank you very much for the good words.
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