David Fuster's second-half strike and a penalty save on his debut by substitute goalkeeper Roy Carroll gave Olympiakos a dramatic 1-0 win over Rubin Kazan in the Europa League on Tuesday.
Spanish striker Fuster slammed the ball into the roof of the net after Rubin failed to clear a corner on 71 minutes. Seconds after the restart Rubin earned a penalty when goalkeeper Balasz Megyeri brought down Gokdeniz Karadeniz and was sent off.
Ex-Manchester United stopper Carroll, making his first appearance since joining from fellow Greek Superleague side OFI Crete last month, dived to his left to pad away Bibras Natcho's spot kick.
The Greeks take a valuable lead back to Athens for next week's second leg, which will decide which team progresses to the last 16.
Rubin coach Kurban Berdyev admitted to getting his tactics wrong in the first half.
"We lost 45 minutes, we surrendered the initiative in the first half. We were more creative in the second half but couldn't convert the penalty."
Carroll said he had not done his homework on Rubin's playmaker Natcho.
"The coach told me when I was coming on that he normally goes to the keeper's left. I decided to go early, and luckily for me, I saved it."
The 34-year-old Northern Irish goalkeeper, who has also played for Wigan Athletic, West Ham United, Rangers, Derby County and Odense BK in Denmark, said he was "happy for his fans" that his first touch in an Olympiakos shirt proved so valuable.
"It's my chance, I took it for the fans. I wasn't nervous."
The second leg is February 23.
