PAOK storms into first place after AEK’s draw to Aris
Source: NEOS KOSMOS
It is advantage PAOK in the title race after they managed to swoop in late and seize top spot following AEK’s draw with Aris.
The Thessaloniki giants downed Lamia, though it was not until the dying moments of Aris’ contest with AEK that PAOK officially jumped Enosi on the ladder after a last-minute penalty saw PAOK’s crosstown rivals rescue a point.
The derby between Aris and AEK finished 3-3 on Monday morning (AEDT) at “Kleanthis Vikelidis” Stadium in the Greek Super League’s 26th and final round of the regular season.
The visitors took the lead in the 15th minute through winger Nordin Amrabat’s converted penalty before playmaker Giannis Fetfatzidis made it level (43′).
Aris then went ahead themselves, thanks to a strike from winger Kike Saverio (49′), but centre half Domagoj Vida cancelled it out (55′) and AEK soon regained the advantage via striker Ezequiel Ponce’s header (67′).
The match seemed destined to be won by the reigning champions when Aris was awarded a late penalty, with striker Loren Moron guiding the ball in to earn his club a point.
The result allowed PAOK to claim first place after they managed to defeat Lamia 0-2 at “Athanasios Diakos” ground.
The Double-headed eagle of the North went ahead in the 71st minute after a long shot by playmaker Taison, and they wrapped up the points with left back Baba Rahman’s injury time goal (90+2′).
Olympiacos extended their winning streak to seven straight matches after beating Volos 3-0 at “Georgios Karaiskakis” Stadium, jumping past Panathinaikos into third place in the process.
The Magnesia outfit’s night turned for the worse almost straight away after midfielder Jean Barrientos was given a straight red in the sixth minute.
The Piraeus giants then went in front almost twenty minutes later through striker Ayoub El Kaabi (27′), with the Moroccan bagging a brace from the penalty spot (45+6′).
Substitute forward Stevan Jovetic then sealed the win with an 87th minute goal.
Panathinaikos has suffered another setback in their premiership ambitions after drawing 2-2 with OFI, falling into fourth place as a result.
The Cretans stunned the “Trifylli” with a 21st minute strike from midfielder Jesus Jimenez, curling the ball into the bottom right from just outside the box.
The Greens equalised after Fotis Ioannidis finished off a one-on-one chance (35′), with the game in the balance until OFI won a penalty that was scored by striker Aaron Leya Iseka (81′).
Panathinaikos managed to make it level again just two minutes later through substitute forward Andraz Sporar, with his goal proving to be the final decisive moment of the contest.
Giannina was kept to a 1-1 home draw with Atromitos, resigning them to last place heading into the play-outs.
The Epirutans struck first via midfielder Daan Rienstra (37′) but the Peristeriotes managed to bring it level through striker Karol Angielski (58′).
Kifisia played out a 2-2 draw at home with Panetolikos to maintain the one-point gap between the two relegation rivals.
Striker Ognjen Ozegovic’s penalty goal gave the hosts the lead (23′) before forward Joao Pedro equalised for the Agrinio side (54′).
Ozegovic restored his club’s advantage just two minutes later before the game was again made level, this time due to centre half Sebastian Mladen (77′).
Panserraikos earned an important 2-1 home triumph over Asteras Tripolis to strengthen their survival chances.
The first half finished in dramatic fashion as the Serres team went ahead in injury time via a penalty from winger Amr Warda (45+4′), which was followed almost immediately by a goal from Arcadians forward Nikolaos Kaltsas (45+6′).
Asteras Tripolis went down to ten players in the second period following midfielder Evgeni Yablonski’s second yellow (68′) and Panserraikos soon capitalised through another Warda strike (76′), which eventually proved to be the winner.
Greek Super League Ladder
1-PAOK: 60
2-AEK: 59
3-Olympiacos: 57
4-Panathinaikos: 56
5-Aris: 41
6-Lamia: 34
7-Asteras Tripolis: 31
8-Atromitos: 28
9-Panserraikos: 27
10-OFI: 25
11-Panetolikos: 20
12-Volos: 20
13-Kifisia: 19
14-PAS Giannina: 18
The original article: NEOS KOSMOS .
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