In a game during which both Marinos Ouzounidis and Akis Mantzios had the opportunity to check several systems and players, Apollon Smyrnis, a team that ascended this season to the Super League, won the game thanks to two goals scored at the end of the match, held in “Leoforos” Stadium.
The expression ” a good beginning makes a good ending” didn’t work for Panathinaikos in its last friendly duel, before the matches against Athletic Bilbao for the play-offs of the Europa League. The “Greens” entered the pitch with strength and positive attitude, creating chances and limiting their guests in their box from the very beginning. A header of Molins just in the 2nd minute was saved and directed to a corner by Apollon’s goalie, Tsovic. As time was passing the hosting team was losing automation and strength being unable to make its game. As Marinos Ouzounidis admitted, at the end of the game, this was logical due to tactical tests and checking of players who were playing in different positions than their usual ones. Apollon Smyrnis had the chance to open the score in three occasions but Siatravanis misguided from a close distance, though Vlachodimos stopped the ball twice in face to face cases before the end of the first half.
The fact which marked the first period was the forced substitution of Coulibaly, who left the pitch due to a muscular strain in his left calf. The second half had no rhythm at all, mainly because of too many substitutions realized by both trainers in their will to check different players in several systems. Although a nil all draw seemed to be the most probable, as there no chances were created, Apollon achieved to score twice and won the game: Albanis opened the score in the 86th minute by an excellent shoot from very close, beating Kotsaris. Three minutes later Elbaz, sent the ball to the right corner of Panathinaikos’ goalposts by a free kick, defining the final score (0-2).
Lineups:
Panathinaikos:Vlachodimos (60′ Kotsaris), Coulibaly (34′ Kolovetsios), Koutroubis (76′ Bouzoukis), Evangelou (46′ Moledo), Hult (46′ Donis), Kourbelis (46′ Zeca), Reis, Lod (57′ Altman), Cabezas (46′ Chatziyiovannis), Luciano (72′ Emmanouilidis), Molins (46′ Pispas).
Apollon Smyrnis:Tsovic, Dasios (46′ Kontoes, 55′ . inj. Kyrgias), Bartolini (76′ Vafeas), Papazoglou, Vallianos (46′ Kouros), Kone (46′ Barbiaz), Siatravanis (66′ Maatsen), Kalergis (64′ Juarez), Maatsi (46′ Albanis), Aniete (46′ Elbaz), Casillejos (59′ Mendrinos).
