Olympiacos earn success at Sochaux
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Article summary
FC Sochaux-Montbéliard 0-1 Olympiacos CFP (agg: 0-2) Olympiacos repeat first-leg success to progress.
Article body
Sochaux injuries
Sochaux's chances were hit by injuries to the attack-minded Marcelo Trapasso, Ilan and Wilson Oruma, and the French side struggled throughout to break down a well-drilled Olympiacos defence.
Nikopolidis saves
Santos and Jaouad Zairi provided the greatest threat for the home side and the pair combined well in the early stages, Zairi twice setting up chances for Santos whose headers were saved on each occassion by Antonios Nikopolidis in the Olympiacos goal.
Santos heads over
Having seen out the French side's early forays, Olympiacos found their rhythm and were able to keep Sochaux at arm's length for the remainder of the half. Sochaux pressed again after the restart and Santos headed Mickaël Isabey's cross narrowly over on 57 minutes, before Olympiacos upped the tempo.
Stoltidis winner
The Greek side looked dangerous in possession and they were soon using it to good effect. Teddy Richert saved well from Grigorios Georgatos on 60 minutes but he was unable to prevent Stoltidis from breaking the deadlock seven minutes after that, the Greek international turning in a cross from the left to set up a meeting with Newcastle United FC in the next round.
