HERAKLION, Greece (Interstat) — A late second-half goal from substitute Orbelín Pineda was the difference as AEK Athens began its Super League 1 campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over OFI on Sunday at a tense Pankritio Stadio.

The match, which saw both teams deploy a flurry of substitutes to break a deadlock, was ultimately decided by a 74th-minute strike from the Mexican international, securing a winning start for the visiting side from the capital.

AEK Athens, heavily favored entering the contest, controlled large portions of the match but struggled to convert their possession into clear-cut chances against a disciplined OFI defense. The home side, playing in front of their supporters, offered a resilient performance but lacked the final touch to trouble the scoreboard, ultimately falling to a season-opening defeat.

The game’s pivotal moment arrived in the 74th minute, a sequence born from the impact of AEK’s bench. Defender Harold Moukoudi, who had entered the match as a substitute, initiated the play. He found fellow substitute Mijat Gaćinović, who then combined with midfielder Giannis Apostolakis. The ball was worked to OFI’s Manolis Faitakis, whose involvement, listed as an assist, unfortunately culminated in the decisive goal for the opposition. Pineda was in the right place to apply the finish, breaking the stalemate and silencing the home crowd.

The result aligned with pregame projections from analytics firm Interstat, which had given AEK Athens a 79.40 percent probability of winning. Their game simulator had predicted a 2-1 victory for the visitors, a forecast that proved accurate in outcome if not in the exact margin.

The match was a physical affair, reflected in the four yellow cards issued by the officiating crew. The first half was particularly fraught, with AEK’s Moukoudi booked in the 29th minute. Tensions escalated ten minutes later, with yellow cards shown to AEK’s Apostolakis in the 39th minute and Gaćinović just a minute later in the 40th. A final caution was issued to OFI’s Faitakis deep into second-half stoppage time, in the 90th+3 minute.

With the win, AEK Athens opens its Super League 1 season with a record of one win and zero losses. Their overall record across all competitions for the young season also stands at one win and zero losses. For OFI, the loss marks a disappointing start, leaving them with a record of zero wins and one loss in both the domestic league and their combined competitive fixtures.

AEK Athens will look to build on this hard-fought road victory as they continue their league schedule, while OFI will aim to regroup and find their scoring form after a defensively sound but ultimately fruitless performance.