It is true that this reaction came in the best moment for Panathinaikos. Too many bad results brought Panathinaikos in a very difficult position concerning the main target of entering into next season’s European competitions. The Greens gave their own answer prevailing over the team of PAOK Thessaloniki by 2-1 in the derby held at Leoforos ground and reduced considerably the distance from the other pretenders, just a step before the start of the playoffs.
Maybe the visitors showed that they were stepping better in the pitch in the first thirty minutes of the game, though with the exception of a nice moment with Zivkovic, they didn’t threat much Dioudis’ goalposts. From their side, the Green players opened the score, following an exemplary attack in the 39th minute. Villafañez changed a pass with Chatziyiovannis the latter did a cross toward Macheda and the Italian striker send the ball into the rival net by a beautiful header!
In the second half the hosts played even better showing that they could manage the game against the team from Thessaloniki, keeping them away from Dioudis’ box. They even had one or two good chances to score a second goal and win the game. What Ayoub couldn’t achieve in the 69th minute, was achieved by Ioannidis in the 82nd minute. In a splendid counterattack, the Greek striker scored the second goal for the Shamrock making the score
2-0, after an instable reaction from Zivkovic, after a shoot by Ngbakoto. Although PAOK scored a goal two minutes later with Krmencik, this goal was not enough to change the game and thus the last whistle of the Belgian referee sealed the victory for Panathinaikos.
The Shamrock completed the normal course of the championship with 45 points, remaining very close to the teams above them and from now on they focus on the play offs in order to achieve the o goal of returning to the European cups.
Panathinaikos: Dioudis, Μollo, Juankar, Schenkeveld, Pouggouras, Μauricio, Νiasse, Αyoub (74᾽ Ngbakoto), Villafañes, Chatziyiovannis (81᾽ Carlitos), Μacheda (53᾽ Ιoannidis).
PΑΟΚ: Zivkovic, Vierinha (74᾽ Rodrigo), Baba, Crespo, Ingasson, Εl Kadhouri, Swab, Ζivkovic, Τzolis (85᾽ Μourg), Warda (67᾽ Κrmencik), Sfiderki.