Panathinaikos returned home and celebrated yet another victory. The Greens defeated Kifisia 2-0 at Leoforos Stadium on Matchday 3 of the Greek Cup League Phase, making it two wins from two in the competition and continuing their unstoppable run with seven consecutive victories in all competitions since 27 August.
Jacob Neestrup’s side, who remain unbeaten since the start of the season after 12 matches, were inspired by Azzedine Ounahi, who scored both goals.
Anass Salah-Eddine also made his debut in green, while Panagiotis Biniaris was named in the starting line-up. At the age of 17 years, one month and 22 days, he became one of the youngest Panathinaikos players in the past 50 years to start a match.
Panathinaikos dominated proceedings from the outset, recording 71 per cent possession during the first half. The Greens pushed for the opening goal and threatened on three occasions: in the 22nd minute, when Tsapras cut the ball back towards Tetteh in the 40th minute, following another combination between the same two players; and in the 44th minute, through Kangwa’s shot from outside the penalty area. However, despite deserving a goal on the strength of their performance, they were unable to find the net.
The pattern remained unchanged after the interval, with the Greens in complete control. Kangwa twice went close to scoring, first with a free kick in the 56th minute and then with a first-time effort two minutes later.
In the 63rd minute, Jacob Neestrup made a triple substitution, introducing Camara, Andino and Ounahi, and the Shamrock increased the pressure even further. Shortly before the 75-minute mark, Tetteh drove forward with the ball and entered the penalty area, where Zolibois, unable to stop him by any other means, brought him down. Referee Tzilos awarded a penalty, and Ounahi converted it in the 76th minute with a powerful low strike into the bottom-left corner of Anagnostopoulos’ goal.
The Moroccan “magician”, who had also scored in the league match against Panetolikos the previous Sunday, found the net once again to put his signature on the Shamrock’s victory.
Kangwa then played an excellent ball out to Antino, who passed to Ounahi. Azzedine advanced from the left, cut inside and unleashed a magnificent curling effort from the edge of the penalty area, sending the ball beyond the goalkeeper and into the Kifisia net to make it 2-0.
Panathinaikos: Pena, Tsapras (63’ Ounahi), De Vrij, Palmer-Brown, Salah-Eddine, Kontouris (83’ Katris), Biniaris, Kangwa, Jagusic (63’ Camara), Pellistri (63’ Andino), Tetteh (83’ Dessers).
Kifisia Tutu Deals: Anagnostopoulos, Apostolakis, Kaloskamis, Zolibois, Polykratis, Jagne (73’ Roukounakis), Doiranlis (19’ Beni), Emboula, Patiras (62’ Sagal), Manganas (62’ Theodoridis), Christopoulos (73’ Pombo).
