Greens dent Atromitos title dreams
 

GREEK SUPERLEAGUE - MATCHDAY 14

Atromitos’ ambitious title aspirations were dealt a blow by Panathinaikos on Sunday as the Greens defeated the Peristeri club 1-0 in an absorbing Matchday 14 SuperLeague encounter at the Olympic Stadium.

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Federico Macheda’s first-half goal proved the difference between the two teams on the night, but Damir Canadi’s Atromitos were desperately unlucky after they twice hit the woodwork and Efthymis Koulouris had a penalty saved by Sokratis Dioudis, who was impressive throughout for the hosts.

Panathinaikos midfielder Christos Donis was needlessly sent off in the dying seconds for a piece of time-wasting which resulted in him being booked for a second time - having earlier got himself involved in a scuffle with Emmanuel Sakic.

The result was the perfect tonic for Panathinaikos after last weekend’s poor 3-1 defeat to OFI Crete, and it moves Giorgos Donis’ youthful side up to fifth place, while Atromitos drop down to third following Olympiacos’ win over Lamia.

THE MATCH

Both teams began the match in attacking mood but after the frantic early stages it was Atromitos who had the first clear chance in the 20th minute after Emanuel Insua had fouled Spyros Natsos in a dangerous position.

Dimitris Giannoulis took the resulting free-kick and although his effort beat Sokratis Dioudis, it cannonced off the right post and Dioudis was then able to clear the ball away.

Panathinaikos responded quickly, and opened the scoring with a slick attacking move just four minutes later. Albanian midfielder Ergys Kace sent Macheda racing clear with a superb long ball, and the Italian controlled it impressively before rifling past Balázs Megyeri.

The Greens held the lead at half-time, but at 1-0 down Atromitos were never out of contention and they continued to produce some neat attacking play which seemed likely to bring them level at some point.

The visitors were given a great chance to get on level terms after 62 minutes when Panathinaikos defender Dimitris Kolovetsios was penalised for a foul on Azer Bušuladžić in the penalty area.

Atromitos’ prolific striker Efthymis Koulouris stepped up to take the spot-kick but he was thwarted by Dioudis as the Greens maintained their one-goal advantage by the skin of their teeth.

Atromitos pushed on in the closing stages as they searched for an equaliser, but Bušuladžić fluffed their last chance when he rifled a shot against the crossbar deep into added time with the goal at his mercy.

STARTING LINEUPS

Panathinaikos: 1 Dioudis(GK), 2 Johansson, 3 Insua, 4 Kolovetsios, 8 Donis, 9 Macheda, 11 Chatzigiovanis, 12 Chatzitheodoridis, 18 Bouzoukis, 24 Mavromatis, 26 Kace

Atromitos: 25 Megyeri(GK), 23 Sakic, 5 Chatzisaias, 6 Bušuladžić, 16 Vasilakakis, 28 Natsos, 15 Madson, 20 Koulouris, 11 Bruno, 44 Risvanis, 31 Giannoulis

HIGHLIGHTS: PANATHINAIKOS - ATROMITOS

by Graham Wood

Image Source: onsports.gr

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