Panathinaikos failed to defeat AEL and dropped two more valuable points. The Greens drew 1-1 in the 21st round of the Stihiman Super League, showing that they still have a lot of work ahead to reach the level they want, in a season in which a major rebuilding of the team is taking place anyway.
The first half was mediocre with no chances on either side of the pitch, and the same applied to the Shamrock, who could not find a way to become threatening in the opening 45 minutes. The fact that Panathinaikos players had only one shot in this period highlights the difficulties they faced.
The second half began with pressure from the Greens and sustained action inside the AEL penalty area, but consecutive shots were blocked by defenders and the ball was cleared. The visitors quickly played on the counterattack, Tupta found himself alone against Lafont and opened the scoring (0-1).
In the 56th minute Calabria tried to threaten with a shot from inside the box but Anagnostopoulos saved, in the 64th minute Lafont denied Tupta a second goal with a crucial intervention, and immediately after Zaroury came close with a curling shot.
In the 67th minute Panathinaikos equalized. The Greens circulated the ball nicely and patiently. Swiderski crossed from the left to Taborda, who passed to Pantovic. The Serbian played for Cerin, who laid it off to Bakasetas, and with a wonderful low shot from outside the area he made it 1-1. It was the captain’s eighth goal this season.
The Greens came close to a full comeback in the 72nd minute with a shot by Zaroury, but despite their efforts until the final whistle, they could not score again.
Javi Hernández made his debut with the Panathinaikos shirt.
Panathinaikos: Lafont, Touba (58’ Pantovic), Jedvaj, Katris, Calabria, Hernández, Cerin, Bakasetas, Taborda (83’ Jagusic), Andino (58’ Zaroury), Swiderski.
AEL: Anagnostopoulos, Ferigra, Batubinsika, Iliadis, Olafsson, Naor (84’ Mourgos), Atanasov, Macon, Sagal (68’ Ngoy), Sisto (73’ Perez), Tupta (84’ Apostolakis).
