The Cup. Interesting provincial final between Iraklis and OFI. Iraklis had won the Cup once – their only trophy, a 10-years old triumph. OFI had no trophies at all. Iraklis was seemingly the more solid team – two foreigners plus two Soviet-born players, one of them the great star Hatzipanagis. OFI depended on their Chilean midfielder Alejandro Hisis, but they were in great shape, up and coming team. Yet, it was equal match – 1-1 – which went to penalty shoot-out and OFI prevailed 3-1.
OFI triumphed with the Cup!
Iraklis was unable to win a second trophy and it was too bad, because this was pretty much the last chance of the great and quite unlucky Vassilis Hadzipanagis to win: he was already 33-years old and age was showing: he was unable to finish the final and its extra-time, substituted in the 98th minute.
Very likely the whole island of Crete danced the night – OFI won its first trophy ever and they were the club of the island. Difficult and may be chancy victory, but well deserved too – OFI was steadily going up in the last 5-6 years, they managed to build solid squad and their Dutch coach Eugene (Gene) Gerards knew his job. One has to appreciate this team: OFI had no chance to get or keep big talent. They had to use somewhat secondary players – players which were not going to attract the attention and the appetite of the big clubs from Athens, Piraeus, and Thessaloniki. And that applied to imports too – so they got little known Chilean midfielder and that was all. Even the coach was not famous… The risks were real anyway – Gerards was snatched by bigger club right after the Cup victory. But it was fantastic moment, the best ever season of OFI.
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