Lambros Balafas writes about Aris, who stood at the same height as AEK and managed to fend off Almeida's trump cards, but also about Questa, three years after the incident with Bouhalakis.
The Betsson Greek Cup is traditionally full of emotion, drama and heroics, an event that gives opportunities, gives birth to heroes and writes pages in football history.
From the day of the draw, AEK was rightly called the favorite of the pair with Aris, the owner of the trophy, the better team with the double, with evidence, with numbers.
And yet, two nights later the yellows of Thessaloniki stood at the same height as Union, who managed to fend off Almeida's team's trump cards, finding ways to book their tickets to the quarter-finals of the Petson Greek Cup..
They had to come up with a plan, and they did. They had to have a soul, and of course they had one.
Of course, at the right time, they showed the protagonists, bringing forward the players who knew how to do the job and dragging the rest.
Auris responded and regained confidence with Cacinovich's goal
From the moment Kazinovic turned AEK's dominance into a goal, at such a crucial moment, just before both teams went to the dressing room at half-time, the majority considered Almeida's side qualified.
Mancios had a different perspective, he calmed his players, he convinced them, he convinced the reaction. And that happened.
Moron is the top scorer in the league, he has been a top performer in Spain, he was waiting for his moment and when he found it, he didn't let the opportunity go to waste.
Aris didn't… went crazy, focused, didn't speed up, was patient, played with time.
He had more chances the closer the penalty shootout got. There they count a lot, the distances are decreasing, precisely, they are zero.
Cuesta's Rhapsody
Always in the soul-destroying process, Mancios showed us a new protagonist. Yes, you guessed it right, it's about Cuesta. Although he enjoyed the drama at the Cup, he was alone.
That's the position you see. On March 4, 2021, Boslakis hides behind the post as the Spanish goalkeeper leaves the ball on the floor to charge into the other half.
Olympiakos' ace set up an unrepeatable trap, got behind the Spaniard, took the ball from him, scored and leveled at 1-1 in the 87', qualifying his side for the semi-finals.
Cuesta came under fire, he was responsible for the ban, and he was initially fired, but his experience, his character, his perseverance helped him get back on his feet and continue to protect his homeland, Mars.
Three years later, Questa…makes amends to Kaso Bouchalakis, defeating Vida and Ponce in 11 steps to take Aris to the “8” of the Cup. Grease Betson et al He lives apotheosis.
Mangeos, guide
These activities may be appreciated more than now by the friends of Mars at the end of the season.
Road to the Cup Final Grease Petson With no shortage of potential opponents in front of him, he remains open.
As the season progressed, the decision by Aries' management to hand the keys of the team back to Agis Manzios proved more and more correct.
It made him…a team regular in a short amount of time, gave him an identity, instilled in him a winning mentality, and did everything Aries needed to perform.
We started to believe it after the win against a very in-form PAOK and now it is firmly in our minds.
Now we all feel like a team that knows how to overcome difficult situations and win through trials.
Ares needs a title, a trophy. He last won in 1970, and since then he has played eight more finals, losing them all!
This time he earned the right to be sure of a new opportunity, no small thing. Perspective is what gives great companies strength and vision…
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