Posted: March 12, 2003 at 18:29 PM EST (23:29 PM GMT)

PAOK was the big winner in Rizoupoli, beating Olympiakos 2-1 in the return quarterfinal game match of the Greek Cup.

The "Two-headed Eagle" was the better team on the field, and they were able to lock in the qualification to the semifinal stage of the Greek Cup in the 33rd minute of the game, when they went ahead 2-0, thanks to goals by Georgiadis and Okkas. I should be noted that PAOK won the first leg of this matchup 3-1 at Toumba Stadium.

Olympiakos started the game strongly, missing two good chances in the 3rd minute of the game, first with Djordjevic and then with Choutos. However, Atmatsidis was ready and blocked both shots. After this, PAOK"s was not threatened, and in the span of two minutes two minutes (31-33) the team from Thessaloniki managed to score two goals, effectively deciding the game. First, in the 31st minute, Koutsis made a perfect pass to Georgiadis, who easily beat Katergiannakis, making the score 0-1.

Before Olympiakos could recover from the shock, PAOK struck again. In the 33rd minute Feutchini was putting the ball in play after a foul. His kick found Giannakis Okkas, who was left wide open in the Olympiakos goal area, and his header ended in the net.

Following that goal, the home fans started chanting against the Olympiakos players, while Protasov seeing that the game was over put in Amanatidis and Anatolakis in the game.

In the 76th minute, Choutos managed to cut PAOK"s lead in half with a header. At the end PAOK achieved an easy win at Rizoupoli Stadium.

The referee of the game was Douros from Korinthos.

Yellow cards: Okkas, Abonsah, Atmatsidis, Giannakopoulos, and Amanatidis.

OLYMPIAKOS: Katergiannakis, Venetidis (46. Amanatidis), Mavrogenidis (29. Novak), Antzas (64. Anatolakis), Koustoulas, Giannakopoulos, Karembe, Djordjevic, Castillo, Zetteberg, Choutos.

PAOK: Atmatsidis, Abonsah (44. Ekgomitis), Hasiotis, Koukielka, Kafes, Koutsoupoulos (81. Kapagiannidis), Koutsis, Feutchini (46. Karadimos), Okkas, Georgiadis, Spasic.

THE GAME: Until 30th minute, Olympiakos was chasing the two goals they needed to qualify. They pushed hard, but without any system. However by 32nd minute they needed 5 goals to achieve the goal of qualifying to the semifinals. From that point on things got very easy for PAOK players, who followed a well designed system by Anastasiadis, who took into account the poor defensive display by Olympiakos in the game with AEK. The first time PAOK players ventured into the Olympiakos"s goal area, they scored. Before Olympiakos players could recover from the shock, Okkas struck again, and this effectively put the end to the game.

Until PAOK scored the goals, Olympiakos looked like they were after the result they wanted. Castillo was good in the first 10 minutes of the game, but after that he was lost. Players like Karembeu, Zettebergm Djordjevic and Giannakopoulos had a very bad game. Giannakopoulos missed his only scoring chance in the 17th minute with a header that barely went wide. PAOK, who thanks to the two quick goals was able to play their game. PAOK players were able to control the midfield, with Kafes, Georgiadis, Koukielka, Spasic and Ekgomitis, while Okkas was keeping Olympiakos defense busy.

OLYMPIAKOS: The poor showing by Olympiakos is not surprising, since in the recent games they were not convincing. However nobody expected such a bad showing. The team played without a set system and tactics, and in the end without sense. Their opponent managed to score two quick goals, which was a psychological blow. Protasov was forced to make three substitutions, and all of them were defenders (Antzas, Venetidis, Mavrogenidis). These events completely threw Olympaikos"s game off. On top of that Olympiakos fans started their chants: "Po Po, you need to be kicked", "Sold out players, Thrylos never dies", and many others, including "Bring on the 7th and expect a massacre."

PAOK: PAOK was the better team, and deservedly qualified to the semifinals of the Greek Cup. Despite the Olympiakos"s poor showing casting doubts on PAOK"s success, the team followed their game plan to the letter, and deservedly came out the winner from Rizoupoli. This win should give PAOK players some boost in their fight to achieve their other goal, which is a spot in the Champions League.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Ilias Atmatsidis. This was his first game after many months. It was his debut in PAOK"s jersey in a very tough game. In the 4th minute he made a great save to keep a clean score. He had a very good showing. He had a commanding control his goal area, and he seems ready for a comeback.

FINAL POINT: This appears to be the start of Olympiakos fans disapprovals towards team"s officials, such as Georgios Louvaris, and even Sokratis Kokkalis.