On a pitch
that was anything but suitable for football, REA managed to stand their ground
and earn a hard-fought draw in Tripoli against Asteras, in the postponed match
of the 13th round of the Greek Women’s First Division.
The
Rethymno side had played at the same venue just four days earlier, on
Wednesday, February 4, for the Cup second leg, with the pitch already in very
poor condition. After several days of continuous rainfall, the situation at
Panarkadikos Stadium deteriorated dramatically, with large muddy areas,
dangerous spots and sections where the ball could not even bounce.
It is truly
disappointing that, in 2026, teams in the top division are forced to play under
such conditions, which pose a serious risk to the players’ physical safety. In
fact, upon seeing the state of the pitch, the REA delegation received
instructions from club president Heraklis Manoukarakis not to take part in the
match, even if that meant a forfeit, with the sole priority being the players’
health.
As if the
unacceptable condition of the pitch was not enough, the refereeing performance
also proved to be below the required standard. The decision to go ahead with
the match on a surface that clearly endangered the players’ safety was
unjustifiable and provocative, raising serious concerns. Notably, this decision
was taken by an elite-category referee, Ms Eleni Antoniou, making the situation
even more disappointing and prompting legitimate questions about the criteria
used to deem the pitch “playable”.
In the end,
REA’s players showed grit and character, deciding to step onto the pitch and
fight like warriors. As expected, the match offered little in terms of
football, with very few goal-scoring chances and intense physical duels, while
injuries appeared early on, as Nigito was forced to leave the pitch in the 31st
minute.
Despite the
adverse conditions, REA held on until the final whistle, displaying
determination and heart to leave Tripoli with a valuable point. With this
result, the Rethymno side remained in 3rd place in the standings, while
also reducing the gap to second-placed AEK to five points.
REA’s next
league commitment will see them return to their home ground in Sochora,
where they will host Odysseas Moschatou next week, as part of the 17th
round of the Greek Women’s First Division.
Key
Moments
5’ Spiridonidou shot from the right,
with English saving with her feet for a corner.
17’ A powerful long-range shot by Markoutsá, with the goalkeeper
collecting on the second attempt.
94’ Michail found space inside the box from the left and forced English
into a huge save, preserving the clean sheet.
REA (S.
Kozanidis):
English, Kotsaki, Vorragia, Nikopoulou, Panteri, Bonnin (93’ Kelaidi), Ruzafa
(86’ Kapareli), Kanellou, Markoutsá, Situma, Nigito (31’ Georgoula).