Panathinaikos’ counterattack is well underway! The Greens won 2-1 at home to Panetolikos thanks to a goal by Arao in the 92nd minute and returned to the Stoiximan Super League title challenge.

Rui Vitoria’s team celebrated its third consecutive victory in the championship after winning over Volos and Lamia. The three points came in an adventurous way and with a goal during additional time, but previously the Greens did themselves a disservice as they had great opportunities to leave Agrinio with a wide and comfortable victory. Despite that, and despite conceding a goal against the flow of the match, they managed to find the keys to victory by showing mental reserves and character…

Panathinaikos started the game more than ideally. They took control of the field from the kick off, controlled the rhythm and quickly found its way to the net. In the 10th minute, the Greens circulated the ball nicely with Tete and Vagiannidis. The Greek international right-back crossed nicely, Jeremejeff headed the ball “marking” the left post and Djuricic, who followed the move, took the rebound and executed from close range, making it 0-1. It was the Serbian midfielder’s seventh goal of the season and his fifth in the championship! The Shamrock’s dominance was complete and the score could have been wider at the end of the half as Rui Vitoria’s team created classic chances. In the 28th minute, Ounahi opened the game nicely and Tete exchanged the ball excellently with Vagiannidis, who “pinched” it but was defeated by Chaves. Tete followed with a double attempt from the penalty spot, but initially Sielis and then Mavrias prevented the goal by a great effort. In the 36th minute, the Greens again combined well with Tete, Vagiannidis and Ounahi, but Djuricic was unable to finish the play.

Panathinaikos entered the second half with… momentum and touched the goal in the 47th minute with Jeremejeff. Tete made a vertical pass for the Swede, who “dug” the ball in a one-on-one with Chaves, but initially the Panathinaikos goalkeeper and immediately after Sielis removed the danger. And yet, instead of 0-2, it became 1-1! Against the flow of the match, Torrejon crossed, Ingason received the marking of Lomonaco and fell to the ground and the ball ended up to Bouzoukis, who scored aptly in the 52nd minute. The goal by Panaitolikos seemed to affect the Greens in the following minutes as the hosts took action on the pitch and threatened again in the 58th minute with Bouzoukis, who was stopped at the last moment by Vagiannidis with a saving intervention (at the beginning of the phase there was an offensive foul on Ingason that was not all whistled).

Panaitolikos had a good moment with Perez in the 81st minute but Panathinaikos kept the… best move for the end. In the 92nd minute, Bakasetas made a stunning assist for Arao, who executed perfectly with his right foot, creating the final and invaluable 1-2.

Panetolikos finished the match with ten players due to the expulsion (second yellow card) of Pantelakis in the 95th minute.

Panetolikos: Chaves, Sielis, Pantelakis, Stajic (80′ Mladen), Mavrias (88′ Bakakis), Torrejon, Bouzoukis (80′ Belevonis), Perez, Luis (55′ Liavas), Roa (55′ Lahoud), Lomonaco.

Panathinaikos: Dragowski, Vagiannidis, Mladenovic, Ingason, Jedvaj, Arao, Cerin (65′ Bakasetas), Ounahi (77′ Zeka), Tete (77′ Mancini), Djuricic (64′ Pellistri), Jeremejeff (97′ Sporar).