07 December 2023

A loss in Dubrovnik!

After eight wins and a draw in Champions League, Olympiacos was defeated by Jug 10-8 in Croatia. Despite this result, the ‘’Reds’’ continue to lead the first group of the tournament having a three-point margin from the second Brescia. Although Olympiacos came back and was a goal way just 1:30 before the end, the bad start cost. It could leave with a positive result from Dubrovnik but didn’t achieve to finish overturning.

Key action:

The two goalkeepers had a great performance in the first minutes of the game. Olympiacos took the advantage with a goal by Buslje. Then, Jug went ahead with two goals but Obradovic replied for 2-2. The ‘’Reds’’ responded to Yugu's quick goals with Obradovic leaving for 2-2. The first quarter was completed with the score at 4-2 while at the start of the second period Olympiacos took advantage of the man-up for 4-3. The players of Thodoris Vlachos could not find a rhythm in the defence and the first half ended with the score at 6-3.

The second half started with Fountoulis reducing to 6-4. Maro Jokovic and Javier Garcia (the two got five altogether), the host Croatians rushed to an 8-4 lead with 3:50 remaining from the third. The Greek winger and Stelios Argyropoulos scored two goals in the last minute to close the third eight with 8-6. At 5:30 of the last season, widening their lead to 3-0, the Reds came close to Mylonakis (8-7). Josip Pavic was impressive for another game keeping Jug scoreless for a whole quarter. The Croatians replied for 9-7 but Olympiacos reacted and reduced with Buslje again. Soon they had chances to go even but missed all and Luka Lozina finished the match from a counter (10-8). This means that Olympiacos’ unbeaten run ended here as the overall overturn against one of the strongest European teams didn’t happen.

Match data:

The quarters: 4-2, 2-1, 2-3, 2-2

Goals:

1st quarter: 0-1 Buslje (04:48), 1-1 Garcia (4:29), 2-1 Pavlicevic (03:24), 2-2 Obradovic (01:18), 3-2 Fatovic (01:02), 4-2 Garcia (00:07)

2nd quarter: 4-3 Dervisis (07:14), 5-3 Jokovic (05:30), 6-3 Jokovic (04:27)

3rd quarter: 6-4 Fountoulis (06:59), 7-4 Fatovic (04:51), 8-4 Jokovic (03:50), 8-5 Fountoulis (01:12), 8-6 Argyropoulos (00:09)

4th quarter: 8-7 Mylonakis (05:30), 9-7 Rasovic (03:16), 9-8 Buslje (02:36), 10-8 Lozina (01:40)

Squads:

Jug Dubrovnik (Kobescak): Bijac, Macan, Fatovic 2, Loncar, Jokovic 3, Garcia 2, Ivankovic, Rasovic 1, Renzuto, Pavlicevic 1, Benic, Lozina 1, Jarak

Olympiacos (Thodoris Vlachos): Pavic, Mylonakis 1, Delakas, Genidounias, Fountoulis 2, Nikolaidis, Dervisis 1, Buslje 2, Mourikis, Gounas, Argyropoulos 1, Obradovic 1, Galanopoulos

Quotes:

Thodoris Vlachos said: ‘’We had a bad first half against a very good team and unfortunately the mistakes cost us. We conceded a goal easily and I think we were back in the whole game which is not usual for us. Nevertheless, we had the opportunity to tie the game one and a half minute before the end. We lost chance, Jug scored and the game ended. This was our first defeat by a top European team which was better than us. We have to go on, play as we do and win next games so as to take the lead of the group.’’

Josip Pavic stated: "It was a strong game like this in Piraeus. We were back in the start, tried, had opportunities to come back but we did not score the goal to draw the game. As captain, I have to say that we did our best, we missed two easy goals but Jug is a very strong team and if you make some mistakes, they cost. Congratulations to Jug and we continue the hard work. Nothing is over and we are getting together, as we have done so far.’’