Panathinaikos was the big winner in the derby against AEK for the second round of the Stoiximan Super League playoffs. The Greens were desperate for the three points and were clinical and efficient in their game, securing a valuable 3-1 victory at OAKA.
The Greens took an early lead but couldn’t build on the momentum and seemed affected by conceding a goal at the start of the second half. However, Rui Vitória’s interventions, introducing Djuricic, Cerin, and Jeremejeff, helped the team regain control on the field and achieve an important win.
Panathinaikos started the derby strongly, showing their intent to impose their style. They brought the match to their pace and, after a disallowed goal by Tete in the 12th minute, opened the score five minutes later. In the 17th minute, their pressing and beautiful combination play paid off. Ounahi passed to Tete, who laid it off to the advancing Vagiannidis on the right.
The international full-back, who reached 100 appearances for Panathinaikos, delivered a pinpoint cross to Swiderski, who headed the ball. Brignoli saved it instinctively and with difficulty, but Maksimovic, who anticipated the rebound, followed the play and headed the ball into the net for 1-0, his fourth goal of the season.
The Greens had another good chance after a 40-meter run and diagonal shot by Pellistri in the 25th minute, while AEK had threatened earlier in the 28th with a header from Vida saved by Dragowski, and again in the 31st with an off-target shot from the Croatian inside the box. The Polish goalkeeper made another crucial save in the 45th minute on another header by Vida, keeping the lead for the Greens until halftime.
The second half didn’t start well for Panathinaikos, who conceded a goal in the 47th minute. After a corner by Lamela, Pierrot got the initial header, though committing a foul on Vagiannidis. The ball hit the crossbar and Moukoudi, who grabbed the rebound, scored from close range to make it 1-1.
The Greens responded quickly, threatening in the 52nd minute with a header from Tete that went over the bar. AEK had chances too — in the 64th minute with a shot by Pierrot inside the area and in the 68th with an effort by Eliasson that was brilliantly stopped by Dragowski.
Later in the match, after the introduction of Djuricic and Cerin in the 65th minute and Jeremejeff in the 74th, Panathinaikos became more dangerous, creating threatening moments in AEK’s box. But neither Mladenovic nor Djuricic managed to score in the 76th–77th minute.
That changed in the 80th minute when Mladenovic won his duel with Pineda and passed to Djuricic. The Serbian attacking midfielder struck a brilliant diagonal shot into Brignoli’s left corner, making it 2-1 with his 11th goal of the season.
Djuricic created another dangerous moment in the 84th minute, avoiding Vida with an amazing dribble, but his diagonal shot went just wide.
The third goal, well-deserved based on Panathinaikos’ dominance after the 65th minute, came in the 88th. Cerin made a superb pass to Pellistri, who crossed for Jeremejeff to finish perfectly, making it 3-1 (his seventh goal of the season), a score that remained until the end thanks to another outstanding save by Dragowski on Vida’s header in stoppage time.
Panathinaikos: Dragowski, Vagiannidis, Jedvaj, Ingason, Mladenovic, Siopis (90’ Arao), Maksimovic, Ounahi (65’ Cerin), Tete (66’ Djuricic), Pellistri (90’ Nikas), Swiderski (74’ Jeremejeff).
AEK: Brignoli, Rota (82’ Odubajo), Moukoudi, Vida, Gacinovic, Jonsson (59’ Eliasson), Pineda, Mantalos, Lamela (81′ Szymanski), Koita (59’ Fernandes), Pierrot (73’ Martial).
