Following their winning start in the league, Panathinaikos also began their Superbet Greek Cup campaign with a victory. The Greens defeated Niki Volos 1-0 at the Olympic Stadium on Matchday 1 of the competition’s League Phase, extending their unbeaten run since the start of the season.
Jacob Neestrup’s side were in complete control of the match and secured the win through a Vicente Taborda goal. It was also a game of special significance, as 20-year-old Giorgos Katris, a product of the Panathinaikos Academy, wore the captain’s armband.
The Greens threatened as early as the sixth minute through Rastoder, who was denied at the very last moment by Pasalidis. Two minutes later, Dessers found the back of the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Panathinaikos enjoyed an overwhelming share of possession but were unable to find a breakthrough during the first half. Their best opportunity came in the 33rd minute, when Jagusic combined well with Kangwa, whose shot was comfortably gathered by Garavelis.
The Greens began the second half with a double substitution, as Taborda and Levi García replaced Jagusic and Rastoder. In the 50th minute, Niki threatened for the first time, with Peña saving Tzimas’ angled shot before Mantzis fired the rebound wide. Panathinaikos made two more changes in the 56th minute, with De Vrij and Louza replacing Palmer-Brown and Kangwa.
Panathinaikos broke the deadlock through an excellent combination between two of their substitutes. In the 59th minute, Levi delivered a superb left-footed cross into the heart of the Niki Volos penalty area, and Taborda produced a magnificent glancing header that sent the ball into the net for 1-0.
The Greens came close to scoring a second goal in the 64th minute through Van Drongelen’s header. A minute later, Niki threatened with a powerful effort from Eppas, which Peña initially parried before the ball struck the post and went behind for a corner. In the 74th minute, it was Dessers’ turn to go close, stretching to meet the ball inside the penalty area, only for Garavelis to make an instinctive save.
In the 76th minute, 17-year-old Biniaris replaced Kontouris to make his professional debut in a Panathinaikos shirt—another Academy graduate who has made the step up to the first team.
Panathinaikos’ next match in the Cup League Phase will be against Kifisia at Leoforos on Matchday 3.
Panathinaikos: Pena, Katris, Kyriakopoulos, Palmer-Brown (56’ De Vrij), Van Drongelen, Kontouris (76’ Biniaris), Kangwa (56’ Louza), Pellistri, Jagusic (46’ Taborda), Rastoder (46’ García), Dessers.
Niki Volos: Garavelis, Makrygiannis, Vafeas, Pasalidis, Kivrakidis, Arias (62’ Panikidis), Eppas (85’ Salamouras), Rayos (62’ Pamlidis), Omeonga, Tzimas (75’ Fernández), Mantzis (62’ Loukinas).
