For the first time in this season´s championship Panathinaikos has experienced the “taste” of victory, after fighting against Apollon Smyrnis and winning by 1-0 thanks to a goal scored by Omri Altman, in a match held in “Ap. Nikolaidis” stadium for the 4th match day of Super League’s Greece championship.

From the beginning of the game Apollon appeared as expected, waiting behind the ball and trying to defend. Panathinaikos needed almost 15 minutes of safe passing game in order to start penetrating the dense lines of the opponent’s defense. Mainly from the left side with Lod and then with Hiljemark, who was taking initiatives finding himself in good positions into and around Apollon’s box. The chances created by Lod, Altman and Hiljemark were “ringing some bells” to the rivals. In a corner executed by the Swede midfielder, in the 32nd minute, Altman jumped got a head and opened the score. Normally the image of the match changed a bit later as Apollon tried to achieve more things, abandoning its rather passive role. Some chances were created here and there till the end of the first half, without changing the score, though.

In the second period, Panathinaikos’ player Mounier had to abandon the pitch as the discomfort he was feeling from the beginning didn’t let him continue the match. He was substituted by Luciano who played as a right winger. The game continued its course in an unstable equilibrium this 1-0 score was giving, as the rhythm was decreasing even more due to the heat which hardened all the efforts of the footballers. There were few chances, insignificant though, with the exception of a positive moment for each team, at the beginning of the second half, firstly by Babiarz and then by Luciano. The last ten minutes were a bit more animated manly due to the cooperation between Luciano and Altman and between the later and Hiljemark, who became aggressive but with no result. Apollon wished but could not create chances against the “Green” defense, which maintained easily this positive one goal result. Panathinaikos achieved its first victory in the championship catching a precious breath towards the next games.

Lineups:

Panathinaikos: Vlachodimos, Johansson, Hult, Koutroumbis (73’ Sylla), Kolovetsios, Kourbelis, Hiljemark, Lod, Mounier (46’ Luciano), Altman, Molins (65’ Chavez)

Apollon: Chovic, Kontoes, Kyrgias, Dassios, Babiarz, Kone, Siatravanis (61’ Maatsen), Albanis (77’ Elbaz), Castillejos, Bitziminν, Valianos (73’ Mendrinos).