Nothing can stop Panathinaikos! Neither the rain, nor the fatigue from the long trip to Almaty, and not Volos’ deep defensive setup, which they used in an attempt to stop the Greens.
Three days after their emphatic 5–1 win over Kairat, Jacob Nestrup’s team produced another strong performance at the rain-soaked Panthessaliko, beating Volos 1–0 and remaining top of the Stoiximan Super League table.
With thousands of fans supporting them from the stands despite the difficult weather, the Shamrock showed character and celebrated their fourth consecutive win.
Panathinaikos dominated from the very first second and took complete control of the match, pinning Volos back in their own penalty area as the home side defended in numbers. The Greens moved the ball patiently and persistently, looking for a way through the Thessalian team’s defensive block.
They came close to breaking through in the 25th minute. After Salah-Eddine sent in a low cross, the ball reached Dessers, who rounded Siabanis and shot from a very tight angle, only to see the ball hit the left post. In the ensuing play, Volos’ goalkeeper Siabanis saved Antino’s shot.
The Shamrock came close again in the 40th minute, when Kamara crossed and Van Drongelen headed from close range, but Siabanis once again made a crucial save. The first half ended with Panathinaikos enjoying 73% possession and leading 13–0 in shots, but still unable to score.
Jacob Nestrup’s Greens did not lose heart. On the contrary, they came out with even more intensity in the second half and took the lead before the first minute after the restart was up. In the 46th minute, Tetteh picked out Dessers, who made a run to the far post, got in behind the Volos defense and finished brilliantly on the move to make it 0–1. It was Dessers’ ninth goal of the season and his fourth consecutive match with a goal, following strikes against Borac, Asteras and Kairat.
A bit later, in the 50th minute, Panathinaikos came close to a second goal, but Levi Garcia’s powerful shot struck the right post. The Greens remained in complete control until the 75th minute and were never threatened during that period. Fatigue from the trip to Almaty began to show late on, but the Shamrock players managed their one-goal lead superbly to the final whistle. They celebrated another valuable win with their fans, keeping the team firmly at the top of the table.
Volos: Siabanis, Kargas, Agiakoua, Lekes (74’ Charalamboglou), Tasiouras (46’ Katsikas), Mendil (63’ Pierre-Gabriel), Gonzalez (46’ Crespi), Burnic, Comba, Lamprou (63’ Kambela), Hurtado.
Panathinaikos: Pena, Calabria, Salah-Eddine (79’ Kyriakopoulos), De Vrij, Van Drongelen, Kamara, Kangwa, Andino (86’ Louza), Levi Garcia (68’ Taborda), Tetteh (68’ Rastoder), Dessers.
