Heroic Kostoulas seals Olympiacos victory in dramatic finish against Aris (2-1)

With a sensational stoppage-time header by 17-year-old Charalampos Kostoulas, Olympiacos secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory implicit Aris astatine the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, opening the 18th circular of the Super League Greece connected a precocious note.

Kostoulas, who precocious extended his declaration with the club, entered arsenic a second-half substitute and scored some goals for Olympiacos (50′, 90’+6′), propelling his team to the top of the table. The young striker’s decisive publication came aft Loren Morón’s superb solo effort had fixed Aris a first-half pb (36′).

Aris, already hindered by injuries, faced further challenges when Martín Montoya received a 2nd yellow paper successful the 72nd minute, leaving the visitors with 10 men. Despite their resilience, Kostoulas capitalised connected a cleanable transverse from Julian Biancone to present the match-winner successful the dying moments.

The crippled started with Olympiacos pushing for an aboriginal breakthrough. Aris held steadfast and adjacent appealed for a punishment successful the 10th infinitesimal when Vladimir Darida was challenged by Rodinei, but the referee and VAR dismissed the claims.

Olympiacos created their archetypal wide accidental successful the 20th infinitesimal when Jordon Martins’ diagonal changeable narrowly missed the target. Minutes later, a treble accidental from Francisco Ortega and Ayoub El Kaabi was thwarted by Aris goalkeeper Julián Cuesta and defender Shapi Suleymanov.

Morón broke the deadlock successful the 36th minute, showcasing his technical prowess to bushed two defenders and goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis with a fierce changeable from the borderline of the box.

Olympiacos equalised 5 minutes into the 2nd half. Kostoulas intercepted a weak backmost pass, drove forward, and coolly slotted the shot done Cuesta’s legs to ignite the location crowd.

Despite Aris’s efforts, including a near-miss from Suleymanov and a important prevention by Tzolakis against Morón, their numerical disadvantage proved costly. After an extended VAR reappraisal successful the 87th infinitesimal disallowed a extremity for Olympiacos owed to a foul successful the build-up, Kostoulas struck again successful stoppage time, cementing his spot arsenic the leader of the night.

The win keeps Olympiacos successful rod presumption up of their important Greek Cup derby against Panathinaikos. Aris, present connected a three-game losing streak, faces PAOK successful different high-stakes encounter.

Lineups:

Olympiacos: Tzolakis, Martins (85′ Yaremchuk), Biancone, Rodinei, El Kaabi, Garcia (46′ Mouzakitis), Esse (77′ Kostinha), Tiquinho (90’+11′ Stamenic), Carmo, Ortega, Velde (46′ Kostoulas).

Aris: Cuesta, Friedek, Montoya, Brabets, Velet, Darida (79′ Rose), Monchu, Sifuentes, Suleymanov, Diadi (15′ Saverio/48′ Fetfatzidis), Morón (79′ Quaison).

Scores and fixtures – Round 18 Super League Greece:

Olympiacos – Aris 2-1 (50′, 90’+6′ Kostoulas – 36′ Morón)

Panserraikos – Panathinaikos (12/1)

Lamia – Atromitos (12/1)

PAOK – Volos (12/1)

AEK – Athens Kallithea (12/1)

Asteras Tripolis – Panetolikos (13/1)

OFI – Levadiakos (13/1)