Panathinaikos returned to winning ways by defeating OFI 2-0 at the empty (due to suspension) Pankritio Stadium, in Heraklion, for Matchday 22 of the Stoiximan Super League. The Greens controlled the match from start to finish and comfortably secured the three points thanks to a goal by Tetteh early in the game and another by Calabria at the end. Now the Clover turns its attention to the big Europa League playoff second leg against Viktoria Plzen in the Czech Republic next Thursday.
The match started perfectly for the Greens, who scored in their first dangerous attack. In the 6th minute Calabria delivered a superb chipped pass to Tetteh, who moved behind the OFI defense and with an excellent lobbed finish made it 0-1, scoring for the second consecutive match after his two goals against the Czech side at OAKA last Thursday.
In the 14th minute, after a combination between Andino, Tetteh, and Pantelidis, the latter shot from inside the box but Christogeorgos saved. In the 17th minute OFI threatened for the first time with Nuss, but Lafont made an impressive save. The first half ended without other chances, with Panathinaikos in full control.
In the 59th minute, the Greens circulated the ball nicely after a great combination between Siopis, Tetteh, Kontouris, and Andino, but the Argentine’s shot went over the bar. OFI had a dangerous shot with Nuss in the 66th minute, but Lafont saved it for a corner. In the 71st minute, under heavy rain, Zaroury advanced from the left, entered the box and fired a strong shot, but the ball deflected and went just wide.
Panathinaikos maintained control until the end, keeping OFI away from Lafont’s goal. In the final minute Cerin was fouled inside the box by Nuss, the referee reviewed the play via VAR and awarded a penalty, also sending off the OFI player with a second yellow card. Calabria converted the penalty in the 98th minute, sealing the final 2-0.
OFI: Christogeorgos, Krizmanic, Lampropoulos, Kostoulas (87’ Shengelia), Androutsos, Apostolakis (64’ Marinakis), Kanellopoulos, Athanasiou, Salcedo (87’ Theodosoulakis), Nuss, Fountas (70’ Iseka).
Panathinaikos: Lafont, Ingason, Jedvaj, Hernandez (72’ Katris), Calabria, Kyriakopoulos, Kontouris (72’ Cerin), Siopis, Pantelidis (62’ Taborda), Andino (62’ Zaroury), Tetteh (81’ Swiderski).
