Aris keeps top four hopes alive with major win over Panathinaikos
Source: NEOS KOSMOS
The Greens have cost themselves a massive chance to gain ground in the title race, falling to a spirited Aris outfit that produced a great effort to give their top four hopes a massive lift.
The Thessaloniki club downed Panathinaikos 2-0 at “Kleanthis Vikelidis” Stadium on Monday morning (AEDT) in the Greek Super League’s 22nd round, staying three points off fourth-placed PAOK in the process.
The home side broke through right before half time via a lovely curling finish into the bottom right by winger Kike Saverio, his first in the league this campaign (43′).
Aris then doubled their lead right after the break when chief marksman Loren Moron slotted his penalty into the bottom right (50′).
The Greens did not create any real threatening chances as the hosts held on strong to secure the win.
The result adds to Panathinaikos’ recent Cup disappointment and crucially cost them the opportunity to get closer to title rivals Olympiacos, whom they are now five points behind.
AEK succeeded where the Greens failed as they won 5-0 in their home clash with Panserraikos, closing the gap between themselves and the league leaders to two points.
Enosi opened the scoring in the eighth minute, thanks to a fantastic long-range strike on the half volley by midfielder Orbelin Pineda (a brilliant way to grab his first league goal of the season).
The “yellow-blacks” soon made it two via a header from forward Anthony Martial, with the Frenchman guiding in winger Niclas Eliasson’s ball from close range (23′).
Substitute Robert Ljubicic found AEK’s third with a strike off the underside of the crossbar in the 73rd minute.
Martial and Ljubicic then each struck once more in the 81st and 84th minutes respectively to put the game to bed.
Olympiacos was held to a shock 1-1 draw by Asteras Tripolis at “Georgios Karaiskakis” ground, causing their lead to come down to two points as a result.
The hosts were stunned early into the clash when winger and captain Nikolaos Kaltsas put the visitors ahead with a goal that was initially flagged as offside before being awarded in the sixth minute.
The “red-whites” equalised five minutes later through midfielder Chiquinho in what proved to be the final goal of the contest.
The Piraeus giants will rue dropping points and allowing their lead to reduce, particularly since they still have two derbies to play in the coming rounds.
PAOK decimated OFI in Crete with a 0-5 drubbing, reminding the rest of the league of their class and coming within eight points of Olympiacos.
The Thessaloniki giants opened the scoring in just the second minute of the game through a tap-in header by striker Mbwana Samatta, which was followed quickly by a second in the eighth minute via Dimitrios Pelkas (who started his first game since returning to his boyhood club).
The hosts had any hope of getting back into the contest taken away when a VAR check saw forward Levan Shengelia given a red card (12′), and their first half only worsened as PAOK captain Stefan Schwab scored from the penalty spot on the half hour mark.
Defender Giannis Michailidis made it four with a strike into the bottom left from a corner (58′).
Samatta popped up again to polish off the win in the 67th minute after PAOK took a very quick corner and crossed the ball into the box for the striker to head home.
Panetolikos sealed a major 0-1 away triumph over Volos to climb into the top eight, thanks in large part to super sub Facundo Perez and his deflected goal in the 90+2nd minute.
Two clashes between Atromitos-Kallithea and Lamia-Levadiakos will close the round on Tuesday morning.
Greek Super League Ladder (games in hand)
1-Olympiacos: 48
2-AEK: 46
3-Panathinaikos: 43
4-PAOK: 40
5-Aris: 37
6-Asteras Tripolis: 35
7-Panetolikos: 29
8-Atromitos: 28 (21)
9-OFI: 27
10-Panserraikos: 22
11-Volos: 21
11-Levadiakos: 18 (21)
13-Kallithea: 15 (21)
14-Lamia: 9 (21)
The original article: belongs to NEOS KOSMOS .
