Panathinaikos entered the game with many changes in its starting lineup. The “Greens” scored first but after letting in the equalizer they reduced their rhythm and remained in a 1-1 draw against Panachaiki in Patras, in a match held at the stadium of Ayia for the 3rd match day of the second stage of the 8th group of the Greek Cup.
The hosting team lined up in order to close all corridors towards their box for Panathinaikos without taking any offensive risk, which was actually the decisive point of the duel. The “Shamrock” played with many new figures and tried by a passing game to break the defensive lines of its rival. During the first half they were able, in some occasions, to get close to the opponent’s box but lost several chances with Lod and Chatziyiovanis. The goal, though, did not come as a result of an organized attack but in a counterattack thanks to the quick thoughts of Avlonitis, the speed and precise cross of Chatziyiovannis and he nice finish of Hiljemark. From its side, Panachaiki was able to score the equalizer without even threatening, as in the unique moment they entered the box with Argyropoulos, they won a penalty, due to a heedless rough up by Insua. One- one was the score by which both teams went to the pause at the end of the first half.
The second period was a kind of those that nobody will remember. Actually, everyone would have forgotten it if there were no efforts from Panachaiki, till the very last moment, to score in order to qualify. Till then the ball passed into both team’s boxes just two or three times in total, which proves that the “productivity” of the duel was notably low during that period. Of course substitutions affected, as the need for some players to recover gave the opportunity to others, like Tzandaris and Emmanouelidis, to make their official debut wearing the green jersey. The hosting team took some risks at the end and tried to achieve the victory which would take them to the next stage, but the chance they had with Polimos, who shot after a corner in the 94th minute, was stopped by Vlachodimos who sent the ball to the corner and kept the one-all draw till the end.
By this result Panathinaikos finished in the first place of the 8th group and concluded its presence in the group stage for the Cup of Greece. Now the “Greens” are looking forward to the draw which will show who is going to be their next rival for the stage of the “16” of this competition.
The lineups:
Panachaiki: Chalkias, Polimos, Boutzikos, Sotirakos, Makridimitris, Fourlanos, Argyropoulos (74′ Eleftheriadis), Polychronis (65′ Μoustakopoulos), Μasouras, Κynigopoulos, Spanos (77′ Αntonakopoulos).
Panathinaikos: Vlachodimos, Kolovetsios, Koutroumbis, Avlonitis, Insua, Reis, Donis, Hiljemark (75′ Tzandaris), Chatziyiovannis, Lod (57′ Altman), Pispas (65′ Emmanuelidis).
