Goals from Martins and Ezzé sparked celebrations with the 3,000 travelling supporters. After Olympiacos stun Ajax, and reaches Champions League play-offs.
With a second consecutive gutsy victory—this time a 2–1 win over Ajax inside the Johan Cruyff Arena—Olympiacos secured qualification for the Champions League play-offs on Matchday 8 of the League Phase. The Piraeus side finished 18th overall and advanced to the knockout play-off round. As a result, in tomorrow’s draw (29 January) they will face either Atalanta or Bayer Leverkusen.
Backed by 2,600 fans inside the stadium and a further 5,000 outside, Olympiacos started the match aggressively, though Ajax created the first chance through Klaassen in the 8th minute. The visitors replied in the 12th minute when Costinha’s header was comfortably held by Gorter.
Ajax missed a huge opportunity in the 25th minute as Gloukh fired high over from close range, and two minutes later Olympiacos lost Pirola to injury. In the 32nd minute, Dolberg found the net with a low finish, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Clear chances were scarce in the first half, though in the 43rd minute Taremi’s shot from a promising position was deflected while heading towards goal. In stoppage time, Gloukh again failed to convert from an excellent position.
Early in the second half, El Kaabi narrowly missed connecting with a Costinha cross. Then, in the 52nd minute, a superb one-two between Martins and Taremi ended with Martins weaving his way through and firing home on the move to make it 0–1—lifting Olympiacos from 28th to 19th in the standings at that moment.
As Ajax pushed forward in search of an equaliser, spaces opened up for the visitors. However, in the 67th minute Ajax were awarded a penalty for a handball by Mouzakitis following a VAR review. Dolberg converted a minute later to level the score at 1–1.
In the 74th minute, two efforts from Costinha were blocked. Olympiacos then committed numbers forward, having nothing to lose, and in the 79th minute, from a Tsikinho corner, Ezzé powered home a turning header to restore the lead at 1–2 amid rapturous scenes.
Ajax threatened late on, and in the 86th minute Weghorst’s header was cleared off the line by Retsos in dramatic fashion.
Referee: François Letexier (France)
Yellow cards: Costinha, Ezzé
Ajax: Gorter, Šutalo, Baas, Wijndal (88’ Naas), Gaaei, Regeer, Klaassen (69’ Edvardsen), Steur (69’ Berghuis), Gloukh (81’ Mosquera), Godts, Dolberg (81’ Weghorst).
Olympiacos: Tzolakis, Ortega, Pirola (28’ Biancone), Retsos, Costinha, Ezzé, Mouzakitis (72’ Sipioni), Martins (88’ Podence), Taremi, Rodinei (88’ Bruno), El Kaabi (72’ Tsikinho).
The ticket to the Round of 16 will be decided against either Atalanta or Bayer Leverkusen.
The draw will take place on Friday, 30 January, in Nyon, Switzerland (13:00), involving teams that finished between 9th and 24th in the League Phase.
The first leg will be played on 17–18 February, with the return leg on 24–25 February.
