Panathinaikos who was stable and played much better, prevailed easily over AEL by 2-0, realizing a good step forward towards the qualification in a game held at “Ap. Nicolaidis” stadium for the 1st match day of the second stage of the Greek Cup competition.
Panathinaikos kicked off quite numbly mainly due to many changes in its starting lineup which limited the ability to automatisms and homogeneity in the pitch. Gradually though and mainly after the first ten minutes, the “Greens” started to improve their effectiveness pressing their opponent high, leading in the passing game and gaining spaces in the field. This way in a transition game, after Sylla has stolen the ball, Luciano moved vertically on the axe and found Chavez on the move and the latter after passing an opponent scored the first goal by an excellent strong crosscut shoot in the 18th minute. The match rolled the same way and in the same rhythm till then end of the first period. Even though Panathinaikos didn’t create any special chances, its players were always close to AEL’s box trying to implement an offensive game mainly with the Argentinean striker; Luciano was very active in creating opportunities. The “Shamrock” was good enough in its defensive line and both teams went to the locker rooms in the end of the first half, as the score was 1-0.
In the second half Panathinaikos entered the match much more confident and its footballers played realizing nice combinations. AEL was retreating without being able to threaten the hosting team. The unique moment, in which the guests showed a certain aggressiveness, was when Wallace shot a direct foul and the ball went to the post. The “Greens” were becoming always much more dangerous. The mainspring of this activity was Luciano, who unfortunately after completing an nice cross to Hatziyiovannis, in the 76th minute, torn his knee and being seriously injured (cruciate ligament rupture and meniscus tear) had to leave the pitch. The entrance of Villafañez (in its first appearance for the season) together with those of Hiljemark and Molins boosted the quality and the aggressiveness of the team which had the opportunity to create chances before the end of the duel. The “Shamrock” had a ball to the post and scored one more goal in the 94th minute, by the Swede strikerwho changed the score to 2-0!
This way Panathinaikos gained a stable footing towards its qualification to the next round of the Greek Cup competition, from a very early stage.
Lineups:
Panathinaikos: Dioudis, Johansson, Insua, Kourbelis, Moledo, Sylla, Reis (72’ Hiljemark), Hatziyiovannis, Mounier (62’ Villafañez), Luciano (78’ Molins), Chavez.
ΑΕL:Bozovic,Rentzas,Wallace,Farkas,Yiovanovic,Kousas,Fation,Leozinho(62’Kritikos),Krisman(72’Nazlidis),Dermitzakis(60’Navaro),Perone
