Cavalier charge sees Metalist past Olympiacos
Friday, March 16, 2012
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Taison credited FC Metalist Kharkiv's "very attacking style" for the 2-1 win at Olympiacos FC that put them in the last eight, but it was "a bitter elimination" for the hosts' Iván Marcano.
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Forward Taison said FC Metalist Kharkiv's "attacking style" was the key to the UEFA Europa League top scorers turning around their round of 16 tie against Olympiacos FC and sealing a place in the quarter-finals on away goals. However, Olympiacos marksman Iván Marcano felt his team paid the price for taking their foot off the pedal after going 1-0 up on the night and 2-0 up on aggregate.
Taison, Metalist forward
Olympiacos are a great club and they were very tough opponents over the two legs but we fully deserved to qualify for the quarter-finals. We were the better team tonight, especially in the second half we played with a very attacking style and justly won the game as well as the place in the last eight.
Olympiacos began the match strongly and were much faster and brighter than us, but we knew that only a victory would do and that we could change things in the second half, and that is why we came out more determined and managed to get the result we needed. I would also like to salute the Olympiacos fans – they were unbelievable and made for an amazing atmosphere.
Iván Marcano, Olympiacos defender
We are hurting at the moment, the whole team are very disappointed. We are very upset at what is a bitter elimination but it is important that we get over this setback and have a strong finish to the season.
We paid the price for relaxing too much and making some mistakes in the second half, but we have an important match at the weekend against Panathinaikos and we must be well prepared for that, as our top priority remains the Super League title.
We have had an exceptional run in the UEFA Europa League. We achieved some great results and were so close to being in the quarter-finals. In the end our tiredness showed and we made errors which cost us, but we – like the fans – will focus on getting over our disappointment. We have to press on and look forward.
Kevin Mirallas, Olympiacos forward
We played very well over the 180 minutes of the tie but in a short ten-minute spell we relaxed and lost concentration – and also our place in the competition. We have been playing for ten months now and fatigue finally got the better of us. Now we must focus on the Greek championship and this weekend's match against Panathinaikos. It's a vital game which, if we win, means we are 99% sure to end the season as champions. We have to put tiredness to one side and the 11 players who start must do everything to ensure we win.
