Having many changes in its starting lineup, Panathinaikos controlled the duel against AEL, scored two goals with its strikers and completed the normal period with a victory, in a game held at “Ap. Nicolaidis” Stadium, for the 30th match day of Super League’s championship.
Despite the fact that the “Greens” were coming from a disqualification regarding the Greek Cup final and were competing without many of their first team players, they entered the match with strength, from the very beginning and controlled the duel against an opponent, who assured its remaining to this League from the previous game. Villafañes’ activity from the left wing produced breaks to the defense of the hosts and chances for the “Shamrock”, especially at a shoot to the post by Berg, who was in the box, in the 11th minute. After the 20th minute the opponents find an equilibrium and had some good moments after some shoots by Nazlidis and Navarro and a head by Golias. Towards the end of the first half, though, Panathinaikos pressed again and after a good passing game in the attack, Berg passed the ball to Leto, who was in the box. The Argentinean shot a “thunderbolt” straight to Theodoropoulos’ goalposts in the 39th minute and opened the score.
The second part started the same way, the first one finished, as in the 49th minute, following a nice combination between Marinakis and Mesto and a cross by the latter, the opponent defenders tried to keep the ball out; the ball found Berg’s leg and went straight to AEL’s nets, making a 2-0. By this goal the Swede “killed” the duel and gained simultaneously the title of Top Scorer in this seasons’ championship, with a total of 22 goals! The rest of the match was rather … customary, offering Marinos Ouzounidis the occasion to give time to his young players Pispas and Staikos to compete, though the good moments till the end of the game were rather limited. Thanks to this victory, combined with the results in the games of Panionios and ΑΕΚ, Panathinaikos will start the playoffs competition with an advantage of one point against them. .
The lineups:
Panathinaikos: Vlachodimos Od., Mesto, Koutroumbis, Evangelou, Chouchoumis, Kourbelis (72′ Staikos), Marinakis, Chatziyiovannis (78′ Pispas), Villafañes (63′ Molins), Leto, Berg.
ΑΕL: Theodoropoulos, Navarro (86′ Koutsianikoulis), Farkas, Golias, Kontor, Fation, Anastassopoulos, Aganovic, Deletic (78′ Kapos), Varela (56′ Massouras), Nazlidis.