Defiant Greens earn late draw at Aris
 

GREEK SUPERLEAGUE - MATCHDAY 12

A late Tasos Chatzigiovanis panenka penalty salvaged a 1-1 draw for 10-man Panathinaikos on Sunday as an enthralling North versus South derby clash ended with honors even at the Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium in Thessaloniki.

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It proved to be a tale of three spot-kicks as first Aris forward Bruno Gama had a penalty saved by Sokratis Dioudis, before Hamza Younes gave Savvas Pantelidis’ home side the lead with a successful 15th-minute penalty.

The Greens - just as they have done all season so far - showed great spirit to stay in the game, however, and they grabbed a point with Chatzigiovanis’ late strike in the third minute of added time.

That leveller came after the visitors were reduced to 10 men following Italian striker Federico Macheda’s 89th-minute dismissal for picking up a second yellow card. It’s a result which keeps both sides locked on 19 points, with Giorgos Donis’ young Panathinaikos team remaining fourth and Aris fifth after 13 matches.

THE MATCH

Aris came into this Matchday 12 clash on the back of two successive victories while Panathinaikos were also on form having thrashed Apollon Smyrnis 5-1 in their last outing. And the pace of the game lived up to the pre-match expectation with both teams showing plenty of attacking intent.

The home side were given the chance to take an early lead when Panathinaikos defender Emanuel Insúa was adjudged to have fouled Gama. The Portuguese forward dusted himself down to take the resulting spot-kick but Dioudis guessed right and produced a great save.

Aris kept their early momentum going though and were ahead after 15 minutes when they were awarded another penalty - this time a questionable decision as replays later showed - when Mattias Johansson was penalised for a handball.

This time Younes stepped up and slotted home the dead-ball to open the scoring.

There were a plethora of chances for both sides throughout the second half, with Panathinaikos the team on top after the break.

After Macheda received his marching orders for picking up a second booking, it seemed that the match would end in a 1-0 win to Aris, but the Greens had other ideas and after Manolis Siopis fouled Giannis Bouzoukis they had the opportunity to level.

And it was a chance that Chatziogiovanis did not miss as he confidently stepped up to slot home from 12 yards with a cheeky Panenka-style kick.

STARTING LINEUP

Aris: 23 Cuesta, 2 Konstantinidis, 5 Delizisis, 6 Basha, 7 Diguiny, 11 Garcia, 17 Bruno Gama, 21 Hamza Younes, 31 Menendez, 32 Siopis, Velez

Panathinaikos: 1 Dioudis, 2 Johansson, 3 Insua, 4 Kolovetsios, 9 Macheda, 11 Chatzigiovanis, 18 Bouzoukis, 21 Kourbelis, 24 Mavromatis, 26 Kace, 44 Pougouras

HIGHLIGHTS: ARIS - PANATHINAIKOS

by Graham Wood

Image Source: sportfm.gr

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