OFI Crete secured the Greek Super Cup with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out victory over AEK Athens following a 2-2 draw at Pankritio Stadium.
The triumph marks the Cretan club's second major domestic trophy in just a few months, following their victory in the Greek Cup final earlier in the season.
Defender Androutsos emerged as the hero of the penalty shoot-out for OFI after the two sides remained deadlocked at 2-2 at the end of regulation time. Following the match, comments from the bench noted frustration over the corner kick decision that led to AEK's late 2-2 equalizer, though confidence remained high heading into penalties.
Penalty shoot-out victory in Heraklion
Following the final whistle, OFI FC owner Michalis Bousis spoke to television broadcaster SKAI to reflect on the trophy win, the progress made during his tenure, and his vision for Greek football.
Bousis said that winning the trophy at home produced an incredible feeling and expressed immense pride in his squad and in Greek football as a whole. He stated that the team continually strives to present its best self and bring pride to OFI supporters, particularly when competing in front of their home fans in Crete.
Pankritio Stadium, located in Heraklion, served as the venue for the final. Bousis, a Greek-American businessman who acquired majority ownership of OFI in 2018, has overseen a structural transformation of the Crete-based club over recent seasons.
Vision for regional football clubs
Reflecting on his arrival at the club, Bousis stated that taking charge of OFI when the team was struggling was part of a broader dream. He explained that he wanted to introduce a different mentality and demonstrate that the island of Crete and the club deserved greater success.
Bousis emphasized that all regional clubs in Greece deserve the opportunity to compete in high-profile finals and have a genuine chance to win, as OFI demonstrated in the Super Cup. He added that OFI's success offers inspiration to other provincial teams to fight and showcase their capabilities, remarking that God is great and occasionally rewards their efforts.
Addressing the club's performance standards, Bousis remarked that OFI is a team capable of beating any opponent while also remaining susceptible to losses against anyone. He stressed that his primary requirement for the players and coaching staff is to compete with dignity, fairness, and complete dedication in every fixture, thanking them for delivering immense joy to Crete.
Post-match respect and European ambitions
Bousis also detailed a warm post-match interaction with AEK Athens owner Marios Iliopoulos. AEK entered the Super Cup as reigning Super League Greece champions, having secured the league title the previous season. Iliopoulos displayed fair play after the match by applauding the OFI squad as they lifted the Super Cup trophy.
Bousis congratulated Iliopoulos on his achievements with AEK, acknowledging that their league title last season was well deserved. He wished AEK a successful campaign in European competition and expressed hope that they could secure a European trophy, referencing Olympiacos winning the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2024.
Bousis voiced high regard for Greek club owners, specifically highlighting Olympiacos, PAOK owner Ivan Savvidis, and Panathinaikos owner Giannis Alafouzos. He commended these leaders for investing significant financial resources into their respective clubs to ensure competitive and respectable performances in European tournaments.
Expressing his ambitions for OFI, Bousis said he hopes the Cretan club can emulate that European success and make Greek fans proud. He clarified that his exchange with Iliopoulos after the match consisted strictly of congratulations and warm wishes from the AEK owner.
Recent silverware and Greek football landscape
OFI Crete, officially known as Omilos Filathlon Irakleiou, was founded in 1925 and remains one of the most prominent football institutions outside the main urban centers of Athens and Thessaloniki. The Greek Super Cup is traditionally contested between the Super League Greece champions and the Greek Cup winners.
By combining their Greek Cup success with the Super Cup title, OFI have re-established themselves as a formidable force in domestic football. The club will look to carry its momentum into upcoming fixtures, including scheduled European qualification ties against CSKA Sofia.
