OFI Crete defeats Olympiacos 1-0 in Imanol Alguacil's managerial debut

Disallowed efforts and early exchanges

OFI Crete defeated Olympiacos 1-0 at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium on 12 September 2026, spoiling Imanol Alguacil's debut as head coach of the Piraeus club in the fourth round of the Super League. OFI showed attacking intent from the start when Taxiarchis Fountas converted a pass from Dickman in the fifth minute, though the assistant referee flagged the forward for offside. Olympiacos replied in the 12th minute through Gustavo Puerta, whose low strike was gathered by goalkeeper Nikos Christogeorgos following an exchange with Chiquinho. OFI defender Dimitris Nikolaou suffered an injury during that sequence and was replaced by Krizmanic in the 13th minute. Olympiacos continued to control possession, creating opportunities for Jota Silva in the 21st and 27th minutes as well as a header by Lorenzo Pirola from a corner in the 31st minute. OFI came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 38th minute when Fountas hit the post after a touch by Olympiacos goalkeeper Ortega, before Aitor netted the rebound from an offside position.

Kodro breaks through in the second half

The visitors maintained their counter-attacking approach after the break while Olympiacos struggled to convert possession into clear chances. Nikos Athanasiou tested Ortega with a strike in the 50th minute, and Fountas sent a right-footed effort narrowly wide from the edge of the penalty area in the 55th minute. Christogeorgos denied Olympiacos in the 64th minute by cutting out a dangerous low delivery from Nair Tiknizyan before Jota Silva could connect. Two minutes later, OFI executed a transition attack down the left wing. Athanasiou delivered a pass into the penalty area to Kenan Kodro, who turned and struck past Ortega in the 66th minute to give the Cretan side the lead. Following the goal, sections of the home crowd chanted the name of former manager Jose Luis Mendilibar.

Late pressure and defensive stand

Alguacil reacted to the deficit by making five substitutions across the remaining half hour, introducing Santiago Hezze, Roman Yaremchuk, Leon Bailey, Sa, and Gelson Martins. OFI nearly doubled their lead in the 81st minute when Pirola deflected an Athanasiou cross toward his own goal, forcing a reaction save from Ortega to prevent an own goal. Olympiacos pushed forward during five minutes of stoppage time to search for an equalizer, with Yaremchuk missing a chance in the 94th minute. Christos Kontis organized OFI's back line to absorb the aerial deliveries and secure all three points in Piraeus.

League standings and European schedule

The victory lifts OFI to nine points from four matches, placing them third in the Super League table. Olympiacos remains on seven points after consecutive league fixtures without a win, following an earlier draw against Volos. Both squads now turn their attention to the opening week of the UEFA Europa League league phase. Olympiacos hosts Polish champions Jagiellonia Bialystok on 16 September at 22:00, while OFI plays German side TSG Hoffenheim at the Pankritio Stadium in Heraklion on 17 September at 19:45. In domestic competition, Olympiacos will travel to Levadiakos on 20 September at 17:00, and OFI will host Asteras AKTOR later that day at 19:00.