Fountas’ Brace Powers OFI to 3-0 Europa League Play-Off Win Over CSKA Sofia

Fountas Double Leads OFI Past CSKA Sofia

OFI secured a 3-0 victory over CSKA Sofia in their UEFA Europa League play-off match at Pagritio, Heraklion, on Thursday. T. Fountas scored twice before L. Dickmann completed the win in the 90th minute, giving the Greek side a commanding result after leading 1-0 at half-time.

OFI Take Early Control

OFI made the stronger start and took the lead in the 19th minute through T. Fountas. The goal gave Christos Kontis’ 3-4-3 formation an early advantage against Hristo Yanev’s CSKA Sofia side, and OFI carried that lead into the interval.

The available statistics show a much tighter contest than the scoreline suggests. Both teams recorded one shot on goal and one blocked shot, while CSKA Sofia had one effort off target; possession was listed at 0% for both sides, so the feed does not provide a reliable measure of territorial control.

Fountas Delivers Decisive Double

Fountas delivered the decisive moment six minutes after the restart, converting a penalty in the 51st minute to make it 2-0. His second goal transformed OFI’s narrow half-time advantage into a substantial lead and made him the clear standout from the recorded match events.

OFI then added a third goal in the 90th minute when L. Dickmann found the net with a normal goal. D. Nikolaou supplied the assist, and the late finish confirmed a 3-0 victory without a response from CSKA Sofia.

CSKA Sofia Disciplinary Setback

CSKA Sofia’s difficulties increased soon after the second goal. S. Sensi and T. Ivanov were booked in the 53rd and 54th minutes, placing further disciplinary pressure on the visitors during a crucial period of the match.

The situation worsened in the 81st minute when M. Brahimi was shown a red card. CSKA Sofia therefore faced the closing stages with an additional disadvantage, although Dickmann’s goal came shortly before the final whistle and completed OFI’s three-goal margin.

What the Result Means for Both Teams

No standings data is available for either OFI or CSKA Sofia in this Europa League play-off round, so the result cannot be linked to a confirmed league position. The match feed does, however, record OFI as the winner, while CSKA Sofia’s listed pre-match form had been Win, Win, Draw, Win, Win, Loss, with this defeat adding a damaging result to that sequence.

For OFI, the clean-sheet victory provides a strong outcome built around Fountas’ double and Dickmann’s late finish. CSKA Sofia must instead reflect on a scoreline that was far heavier than the recorded shot totals might have suggested, as well as the effect of three disciplinary incidents, including Brahimi’s dismissal.