Organised Lamia frustrate Panathinaikos in season opener
SUPER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 1
It was an evening of frustration for Panathinaikos in Lamia, as their hosts held the Athenians to a 1:1 draw in the opening match of the 2019/2020 Super League season.
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Since returning to the top flight in 2017, Lamia have enjoyed success against Panathinaikos, winning three matches and gaining two draws. It could have been more than just the one point for Lamia today, but after Lazar Romanic opened the scoring, Federico Macheda equalised from the penalty spot for the visitors. Panathinaikos, who had the majority of possession in Lamia, failed to create a number of great opportunities against their stubborn opponents.
Panathinaikos host OFI at the Olympic Stadium next week, while Lamia welcome Atromitos.
THE MATCH
Lamia took the lead in the 20th minute in fortunate circumstances.
Emerging from his goal, Panathinaikos goalkeeper Sokratis Dioudis contrived to completely miss the ball, allowing Romanic to score into the empty net after he had sprinted beyond the static Mattias Johansson.
It was the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system which played a key role in Panathinaikos scoring their equaliser 15 minutes later.
After checking the video, the referee decided that Macheda’s shot had been blocked by the hand of Vasilis Pliatsikas, and the Italian striker subsequently slid his ensuing spot-kick low into the left corner.
Panathinaikos then had a second goal chalked off for offside before the half-time break arrived.
In what turned out to be a disappointing second half, Ghayas Zahid blasted over when twisting to a shooting position, before Thuram headed off target for Lamia.
Panathinaikos pushed for a winner in the latter stages, but for all their huffing and puffing, the Greens return to Athens with just the one point.
TEAMS:
Lamia: Vellidis, Vanderson, Adejo, Vyntra, Pilatsikas, Bejrano, Karamanos, Saliakas (Tsoukalos 90+3’), Romanic (Skondras 76’), Thuram (Vasilogiannis 62’).
Panathinaikos: Dioudis, Insua, Poungouras, Kolovetsios, Johansson, Kourbelis, Kolovos, Zahid, Donis (Bouzoukis 82’), Chatzitheodoridis (Mollo 60’), Macheda.
HIGHLIGHTS
