'Sometimes maybe good, sometimes maybe s****

OFI Crete's historic run to the Greek Cup final

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Neon smoke from a sea of flares billow into the sky above the port of Heraklion and blur into the fading amber sunset. “We lit a fire and it's growing. The island burns from end to end” chant hundreds of OFI fans, serenading their heroes grouped on a stage beside the water. It is early May, and there are still two weeks to go before the Cretan club's biggest match in 35 years: the 2025 Greek Cup final. “I still don’t believe we're in the final,” Manos Hahlioutis, member of ultras group Snakes 4, tells World Soccer. “Ask anyone, none of us believe it.”

OFI tend to do things the hard way. Even the greatest success in their history, winning the 1987 Greek Cup, was largely thanks to third-choice goalkeeper Myron Sifakis, picked for his propensity for saving penalties. Sifakis delivered, stopping two as OFI defeated Iraklis 3-1 in the shootout.

An even unlikelier hero was between the posts when OFI punched their ticket for this year's final. Montenegro midfielder Marko Bakic was forced to don the gloves in the 101st minute, with OFI narrowly leading Asteras Tripolis 2-1 on aggregate. Adventurous goalkeeper Nikos Christogeorgos had wiped out an advancing Asteras attacker just outside his area and the hosts had no substitutions remaining. The resulting free-kick was perfectly placed for the visitors to force extra-time. But Bakic stooped and scooped Federico Alvarez's goal-bound strike clear and a collective disbelief gripped thousands of Cretans in the full-time celebrations.