Olympiakos Move Ahead To Second Round

December 12, 2007

After scoring two goals, midfielder Ieroklis Stoltidis steered Olympiakos to victory, sending them to the second round of the Champions League after thrashing Werder Bremen 3-0 Wednesday.

After two draws that lifted them to the knockout round of the tournament while the losers were done away with, this is the first victory at home for the Greek team this season in this European competition.

A witty pass from Democratic Republic of Congo striker Lomana Lua Lua put Stoltidis just outside the penalty area and his low left-footed blast. Stoltidis scored in the 12th minute and sent a volley from outside the area past Tim Wies, Bremen goalkeeper. Darko Kovacevic headed in Olympiakos’ second in the 70th, heading in a free kick from Stoltidis.

Before the two not-on-time goals by Olympiakos, Werder Bremen had two brilliant chances to put the score on deadlock, the first coming at the 48th minute when Naldo’s header was jerked away from the goal line by defender Costas Mendrinos who arrived during the first half as a substitute for the injured Christos.

Stoltidis made sure of the win four minutes later to assure his side second place in Group C following Real Madrid, who beat Lazio 3-1. Werder now has a place in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup.

Stoltidis believes that the win was definitely deserved. He says they’ve been playing well throughout the tournament even without getting the results, and that they always believed in themselves which he thinks is the key for winning this time’s game.

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