Olympiacos Captures Second Trophy With Greek Cup Win

Irvine, CA - Olympiacos won their second trophy of the season while it's winner take all in Croatia as the Croatian Championship concludes this week. The Italian League also continued as action begins to wrap up. For more on Team USA Abroad click here.

Results:
Croatian Championship:
Mladost 12 Jug 10
Mladost 12 Jug 8 (Series tied 2-2)

Greek Cup:
Peristeri 11 PAOK 9
Olympiacos 18 Hydraikos 9
Vouliagmeni 11 Apollon 10
AEK 8 Peristeri 6
Olympiacos 9 Vouliagmeni 7
Olympiacos 20 AEK 4

Italy:
Florentia 10 Roma 7

Schedule:
Croatian Championship:
5/26 Jug vs Mladost Game 5

Italy:
5/29 Roma vs Iren Genova Quinto

The final eight of the Greek Cup also featured last week with Olympiacos, Apollon and Peristeri all competing. First up Peristeri with Matt Farmer faced AEK in the quarterfinals. The game was a tight one as it was all level 2-2 at the end of the first. Peristeri then took the edge in the second as they led 4-3 at halftime. After a level third quarter Peristeri still held the lead but PAOK eventually found the equalizer with under two minutes to go. Farmer though stepped up and scored the game winner as Peristeri won 11-9. The next quarterfinal saw Olympiacos with Max Irving and Hannes Daube take on Hydraikos. It was all Olympiacos in this one as they raced out to a 5-1 first quarter lead and increased that to 8-3 at halftime. Daube would score once in the game as they went on to win 18-9. The final quarterfinal matchup saw Apollon and Alex Bowen take on Vouliagmeni. Vouliagmeni set the tone early as they took a 4-2 halftime lead. Bowen answered to start the fourth though as he fired in a lightning shot to make it 4-3 to start a rally that ended with Apollon tying the game at 7-7 at the end of the third. After a back and forth start to the fourth Vouliagmeni took control late as they prevailed 11-10.

Next up the first semifinal featured Matt Farmer and Peristeri taking on AEK. It was a tough game for Peristeri as they fell behind 3-0 at the end of the first. They didn't give up though as they rallied to get within 5-3 at halftime. AEK though was determined to prevent a comeback and they did so as they kept Peristeri at bay going on to win 8-6. The second semifinal saw Olympiacos with Irving and Daube take on Vouliagmeni. After playing each other only a week earlier for the league championship both teams were well prepared. Daube came up with two big goals in the first as the game was all level at 4-4. Olympiacos would then score the only goal of the second as they took a 5-4 lead. Olympiacos then went on a run to take an 8-5 lead but Vouliagmeni came back to make it 8-7. Daube then stepped up big again as he scored his game leading third goal of the game to seal a 9-7 victory and a place in the final.

The final of the Greek Cup was contested between Olympiacos and AEK. Olympiacos left no doubt that they were the best team as they raced out to a 7-0 lead at the end of the first with Irving getting on the board early. From there it was all Olympiacos as they went on to win 20-4 to take their second trophy of the year otherwise known as doing the double.

The Croatian Championship continued last week as Jug with Alex Obert looked to wrap up the title. Mladost had other ideas though as they looked to get back into the series and were able to do so. First up was game three which was a tightly contested battle as it was all tied 2-2 at the end of the first. Jug took the lead in the second as they led 5-4 at halftime. Mladost though came back to take the lead in the third and held off a late comeback attempt as they prevailed 12-10 to force a game four. Jug rebounded quickly to begin game four as they took a 3-1 lead at the first. Jug though struggled in the second as Mladost exploded for five goals to take a 6-4 lead. From there Mladost didn't let up as they increased their advantage to 9-5 at the end of the third. Mladost held level with Jug in the final frame as they won 12-8 to tie the series at 2-2 and force a deciding game five on May 26.

Italian Serie A1 action continued last week with Marko Vavic and Roma taking on Florentia as they continue to fight to avoid relegation. It was a tight first quarter as the game was level 3-3 at the end of the first. Florentia took the edge in the second though as they went on a 3-1 run to take a 6-4 halftime. Florentia continued their momentum in the third and held off Roma in the final frame as they won 10-7. With the loss Roma remain in second place in the playout round standings. They will return to action next week against Iren Genova Quinto in the final game of the play out round on May 29.