With Panathinaikos spirit and the heart of a thousand lions, Jacob Neestrup’s Greens celebrated a great victory! The Shamrock, despite falling behind on the scoreboard, managed to complete a major comeback and claim a 2-1 win over Iraklis with a late goal, remaining at the top of the Stoiximan Super League standings for another matchday. It was Panathinaikos’ ninth win in ten league matches and their eighth consecutive victory in all competitions. A difficult win that came with spirit, persistence and character. A win that once again showed what this team has built.
Panathinaikos entered Kaftanzoglio Stadium determined to take control from the start. They moved the ball around, tried to play vertically and created their first good chance as early as the 3rd minute, when Tetteh found Dessers with a through ball. The Belgian shot from a wide position, but the ball went just wide. In the 12th minute, Taborda created another good situation with an excellent cut-back, but Vouros prevented Dessers from scoring.
And while Panathinaikos were trying to increase the pressure, Iraklis found the goal. In the 17th minute, López took a free kick, Vouros got there first and turned the ball towards Marques, who made it 1-0 from close range.
The goal changed the balance of the match. Iraklis closed down the spaces even more and Panathinaikos needed patience to find openings against a crowded defence. The Greens kept possession, tried to stretch the pitch and create from the flanks. Eventually, they created a clear chance at the end of the first half. In the 45+1st minute, after a Calabria cross, Athanasiadis came out to challenge in the air with Tetteh and then Taborda shot wide from a very good position. The Greens appealed for a penalty in the challenge between the Iraklis goalkeeper and Tetteh, but neither the referee nor VAR saw a penalty.
Panathinaikos’ performance changed noticeably after the break. Neestrup’s team pushed their lines higher up the pitch, increased the intensity of their pressing and began winning the ball back more quickly, keeping Iraklis deep inside their own half. In the 48th minute, Levi García created from the flank and Louza hit a good shot, with Athanasiadis saving at his corner. It was the first warning.
The equaliser came in the 56th minute and had all the elements Neestrup wanted to see from his team. Taborda and Andino pressed high, Panathinaikos regained possession close to the opposition penalty area and the move developed quickly. Kyriakopoulos delivered the cross, Dessers made the right movement, touched the ball past Athanasiadis and finished from close range to make it 1-1.
Panathinaikos had now taken control of the match again, without neglecting their balance. Iraklis, however, had one threatening moment in the 70th minute, when Piña found space and shot from a wide position, but Peña reacted brilliantly and kept the team in the game with a crucial save. The Greens continued to search patiently for a second goal and Kontouris threatened in the 88th minute with a shot that went wide.
Their persistence was rewarded in stoppage time. In the 90+2nd minute, Rastoder played the ball across inside the penalty area and it struck Žulevič’s hand. Referee Evangelou did not initially spot the offence, but after VAR intervention and an on-field review, he awarded the clear penalty.
Calabria took responsibility and made no mistake. In the 90+4th minute, he calmly converted, beat Athanasiadis and scored the “golden” goal for 1-2. It was the goal that completed a comeback full of character and gave Panathinaikos another great victory. The team and the magnificent Shamrock supporters, who were in the stands at Kaftanzoglio Stadium, celebrated the three points together.
Panathinaikos successfully completed a very difficult and demanding period of consecutive matches every three to four days, with a record of eight wins in nine games. They are top of the Super League standings and have a perfect winning record in the Conference League and the Greek Cup, where they are also top of the standings.
Iraklis: Athanasiadis, Piña, Roche, Vouros, Sourlis (59’ Hromada), Krainz, Soria (59’ Chakla), Nanu, Xande Silva (67’ Bárcenas), López (84’ Nizet), Marques (84’ Žulevič).
Panathinaikos: Peña, Calabria, de Vrij, van Drongelen, Salah-Eddine (46’ Kyriakopoulos), Louza, Camara (46’ Levi García), Taborda, Andino (76’ Tsapras), Tetteh (76’ Kontouris), Dessers (84’ Rastoder).
