Olympiakos' new coach Zico watched from the stands as the Greek side overcame AZ Alkmaar 1-0.
Torosidis heads winner in front of new coach
Olympiakos' new coach Zico watched from the stands as the Greek side overcame AZ Alkmaar 1-0 in a lifeless encounter.
Following the sacking of Temuri Ketsbaia in the build-up to the game, Olympiakos produced a disjointed performance, but were able to emerge with the points.
In a game of few chances, Olympiakos grabbed the only goal on 79 minutes when Vassilis Torosidis rose to head home Jaouad Zairi's cross from the right.
AZ had an excellent opportunity to take the lead after just eight minutes, but Brett Holman was unable to turn Moussa Dembele's deflected cross underneath the crossbar from close range.
In a first half shorn on quality and chances, Dutch champions AZ were jeered with every touch, but did look the more likely to make something happen.
There was one scare for AZ on 21 minutes when keeper Sergio Romero flapped at a corner, but the ball bounced off Olof Mellberg's head and did not fall kindly for Diogo.
Holman shot wide on the stretch from Dembele's clever inside pass, while Olympiakos full-back Michal Zewlakow was off target with a shot from distance.
Olympiakos at least started the second half with more purpose than they demonstrated in the first, yet they still failed to test the suspect Romero.
Zewlakow pinged in a cross from the right on 55 minutes, but Torosidis' first-time effort was wayward and flew into the stands.
AZ responded with a shot off target from Mendes, who was replaced with 20 minutes to go by Kees Luijckxx.
The visitors then had the first meaningful shot on target as Holman's swerving attempt was fumbled by Antonis Nikopolidis, but Mounir El Hamdaoui was unable to find an angle to tuck away the rebound.
With just over 10 minutes to go, Olympiakos grabbed the winner through their first shot on target as Torosidis rose unmarked to head home Jaouad Zairi's floated cross from the right wing.
AZ tried to offer a late rally, but never looked capable of snatching an equaliser as Olympiakos comfortably saw out the closing moments.
| Olympiakos |
Team Statistics |
AZ Alkmaar |
| 1 |
Goals |
0 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 1 |
Shots on Target |
2 |
| 7 |
Shots off Target |
4 |
| 0 |
Blocked Shots |
2 |
| 4 |
Corners |
4 |
| 11 |
Fouls |
21 |
| 1 |
Offsides |
1 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 76.2 |
Passing Success |
83.6 |
| 26 |
Tackles |
22 |
| 76.9 |
Tackles Success |
77.3 |
| 42.5 |
Possession |
57.5 |
| 53.5 |
Territorial Advantage |
46.5 |
|
