Volos scored their first home victory of the season, defeating Asteras Tripolis 2-1 at the Panthessaliko Stadium during their 15th Super League match of the season. This win was significant for the team, marking their first three points at home after going eight months without such success.
The match started brightly for the visitors, as Asteras dominated the first half. The players showcased impressive ball movement, frequently threatening Volos’ goalkeeper Kovacs. They came close to scoring multiple times, most significantly through Mpilé, who hit the crossbar with his shot at the 29th minute. Despite their efforts, the first half ended without any goals, each team heading to the locker rooms tied at 0-0.
After the break, Volos made adjustments and began to exert more pressure. Within six minutes of the restart, Asechoun, who had just entered the match, made his mark by scoring at the 51st minute with what initially seemed like a cross. The ball took advantage of the slippery pitch due to the rainfall, fooling Asteras' goalkeeper Tsintotas to find its way to the net.
Buoyed by their goal, the hosts continued to press for another and found one at the 68th minute. Komba made it 2-0, converting after capitalizing on a mistake from defender Triantafyllopoulos. The home crowd was elated, celebrating what seemed to be decisive moments of the match.
Despite trailing, Asteras fought back, and their relentless effort was rewarded late on when Nigerian forward Oko scored at the 89th minute. His goal cut the deficit to 2-1, offering a glimmer of hope, but the final whistle blew before they could equalize.
This victory propelled Volos to the 9th position on the league table with 17 points, putting them slightly above Asteras, who remain sought for answers with their five consecutive losses. The defeat will make it 8 games without victory for Asteras against strong teams like AEK and PAOK. They are now set to play their next match against Panionios on Wednesday, aiming to regain their form.
When analyzing the performances, Kovacs, the goalkeeper for Volos, played exceedingly well, maintaining his composure against numerous attacks and making several key saves including stopping shots on target during the first half. Meanwhile, Asechoun was undoubtedly the star for Volos, announcing his arrival with pivotal contributions.
Volos will next travel to Heraklion to face OFI, hoping to extend their newfound momentum, whereas Asteras will host Aris, also desperately seeking points to improve their standings.
