Leaders Volos NFC regain eight point advantage, Fight for second intensifies
GREEK FOOTBALL LEAGUE - ROUND 22
| Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17-Mar-19 | Apollon Larissas | 0 - 1 | AE Karaiskakis |
| 17-Mar-19 | Apollon Pontou | 1 - 0 | Aiginiakos |
| 17-Mar-19 | Iraklis | 2 - 1 | Aittitos Spaton |
| 17-Mar-19 | Panachaiiki | 2 - 2 | Doxa Dramas |
| 17-Mar-19 | Volos NFC | 3 - 0 | Sparti |
| 17-Mar-19 | Ergotelis | 4 - 1 | Irodotos |
Volos NFC regained a comfortable eight point advantage atop the Football League standings after defeating Sparti while Apollon Larissas and Panachaiki both dropped points on Sunday. Apollon Pontou moved into third place, with Panachaiki, as they dispatched Aiginiakos 1:0.
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Volos NFC thumped strugglers Sparti 3:0 to return to winning ways after four matches without tasting victory. The hosts wasted no time to open the scoring as Pitu found the back of the net in the eighth minute with a brilliant freekick before Kariqi added a second goal four minutes before halftime. With Volos NFC in complete control, Frangos netted home from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute to form the final 3:0 scoreline. The result moves Volos NFC eight points clear of second placed Apollon Larissas, who were handed a shock defeat on Sunday. Sparti remain second from bottom and are headed for relegation.
Apollon Larissas hopes for a late push for first place took a heavy blow as they were handed a surprising 0:1 defeat at home to AE Karaiskakis. Tzioras’ 44th minute goal separated the sides at the final whistle, sending his team into tenth place along with Doxa Dramas on 28 points. Second placed Apollon Larissas now sit eight points behind leaders Volos NFC and just one point ahead of third placed Apollon Pontou and Panachaiki.
Panachaiki were held to a draw at home by 10-man Doxa Dramas in a thrilling four goal game (2:2) in Patra. The visitors opened the scoring in the ninth minute through Doumtsios, but the same player was sent off just six minutes later for a hard foul on the opposing goalkeeper. To the delight of the home fans, Eleftheriadis found the equalizer in the 38th minute after netting home a rebounded effort from his own penalty effort. Despite playing with a man down, Doxa Dramas pulled ahead once again through a controversial goal in 61st minute, with questions over if the full ball cleared the goal line. There was late drama in the already action-packed match in Patra as Eleftheriaidis salvaged a point for the hosts with a brilliant half volley in the second half stoppage time. The result sees Panachaiki (tied with Apollon Pontou) sit just one point behind second placed Apollon Larissas. Doxa Dramas are tied for tenth with 28 points.
Apollon Pontou took full advantage of both Apollon Larissas and Panachaiki’s slip ups as they took down bottom of the table Aiginiakois 1:0. The only goal of the match for the hosts came in the final minute of the first half through Kyvelidis. Aiginiakos finished the match with ten men after Vlachomitros was sent off with a straight red card in the 74th minute. With the win, Apollon Pontou moved into third place, with Panachaiki, on 39 points just one point behind second placed Apollon Larissas.
In other action, Iraklis defeated Aittitos Spaton 2:1 while Ergotelis took down Cretan rivals Irodotos 4:1, with both teams finishing the match with ten men.
